Crescenzio Sepe

Born at Carinaro, in the province of Caserta. He attended the Seminary of Aversa, studied philosophy at the Regional Seminary in Salerno and theology in Rome. He was ordained for the Diocese of Aversa on 12 March 1967. He earned degrees in theology and canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University and in philosophy from the University of Rome La Sapienza. He taught theology at the Lateran and Urbanian Pontifical Universities. To prepare for a career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1969.{{cite web|publisher=Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy|language =it|access-date = 13 April 2020 | title = Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999 |url = https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/1950-1999.htm }}

He joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See and was posted to Brazil from 1972 to 1975.{{cite web | language =it | website = Chiesa di Napoli | title= Biografia del Cardinale Crescenzio Sepe |url = https://www.chiesadinapoli.it/arcivescovo/biografia-del-cardinale-crescenzio-sepe/ | access-date = 13 April 2020 }} He then returned to Rome and worked at the Secretariat of State, first in the Section for International Organizations and then in office for information and documentation. He was named the Secretariat's Assessor for General Affairs in 1987.

Sepe was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy and Titular Archbishop of Gradum on 2 April 1992.{{cite book | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-84-1992-ocr.pdf | pages =412, 470 | date= 1992 | volume = LXXXIV }} He received his episcopal consecration from Pope John Paul II on 26 April. On 29 September 1992, Pope John Paul named him a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.{{cite book | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-84-1992-ocr.pdf | page =1196 | date= 1992 |volume = LXXXIV }} In an essay published the next year, he described celibacy as integral to the priesthood: "Christ willed ... to combine the virginal state with his mission as eternal priest.... We can therefore affirm that chastity and virginity are not simply additional or secondary in Christ's priestly existence, but belong to its very essence."{{cite book | title= For Love Alone: Reflections on Priestly Celibacy | editor-last=Sanchez | editor-first= Jose | first= Crescenzio | last = Sepe | chapter= The Relevance of Priestly Celibacy Today | pages=66–82 | date=1993 | publisher= St. Paul's | location = Slough, UK}} Quoted in {{cite book | access-date = 13 April 2020 | page= 111 | first = Gary| last= Selin | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=X5L4CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA111 |title= Priestly Celibacy: Theological Foundations | publisher= CUA Press | date= 2016| isbn= 9780813228419 }}

As secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, Sepe was responsible for organizing the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Pope John Paul's ordination to the priesthood, which proved so successful that the Pope gave him even greater responsibility.{{cite news | url = https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/hint-accountability-new-vatican-financial-scandal | first = John L. | last = Allen Jr. | title= A hint of accountability in new Vatican financial scandal | work = National Catholic Reporter | date = 21 June 2010}} On 3 November 1997, Pope John Paul named him General Secretary of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, which has been described as "almost certainly the most complex logistical enterprise in recent Roman memory" and "a carnival such as Rome has not seen since the days of Nero". He was President of Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem from 8 November 1997 to July 2001. On 18 February 1999, he was made a member of the Congregation for the Clergy.{{cite book | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-91-1999-ocr.pdf | page=479| date= 1991 | volume = LXXXXI }}

On 9 April 2001 Pope John Paul named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 13 April 2020 | title= Rinunce e Nomine, 09.04.2001 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2001/04/09/0199/00564.html | language = it | date = 9 April 2001}} As Prefect he was ex officio the Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urban University.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} In 1995, as head of the Congregation, he helped implement a priest-sharing program among dioceses worldwide to help redress the geographical imbalance in vocations. He also said that the Vatican was facilitating the return of hundreds of priests who had left the active ministry and married in civil ceremonies, but who were now divorced or widowed and were "sincerely sorry" for having strayed from their vocation. In 1997 he said a relaxing of the celibacy rule for Latin Church priests would not ease the vocations crisis and would have no theological or pastoral foundation.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Pope John Paul made him Cardinal-Deacon of Dio Padre misericordioso in the consistory of 21 February 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/homilies/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20010221_concistoro.html|title=Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico per la creazione dei nuovi Cardinali|author=Pope John Paul II|author-link=Pope John Paul II|date=21 February 2001|website=The Holy See|publisher=Libreria Editrica Vaticana|at=Assegnazione dei Titoli o delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali|language=it|trans-title=Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals|type=Homily|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108120426/http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/homilies/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20010221_concistoro.html|archive-date=8 January 2018|url-status=live}} At the age of 57, he was the youngest official of the Roman Curia named a cardinal in decades.{{cite web | access-date = 13 April 2020 | date = 20 June 2010| url = http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2010/06/propaganda-probed-sepe-under-scrutiny.html | title= "Red Pope" Probed: Sepe Under Scrutiny | website = Whispers in the Loggia}}{{Better source needed|date=April 2020}} He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, where he was also one of the cardinals named to the group that handles the ordinary affairs of the Apostolic See until a new pope is chosen,{{cite news | url = https://zenit.org/articles/cardinals-hear-meditation-on-church-and-world/ | work = Zenit | access-date = 13 April 2020 | title= Cardinals Hear Meditation on Church and World | date= 14 April 2005}} and in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis.{{cite news | url = https://zenit.org/articles/list-of-cardinal-electors/ | work = Zenit | access-date = 13 April 2020 | title= List of Cardinal Electors | date= 12 March 2013}}

Image:Sepe1.jpg

Pope John Paul named him a member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on 6 August 2002,{{cite press release | access-date = 14 April 2020 | date= 6 August 2002 | publisher = Holy See Press Office |language=it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 06.08.2002 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2002/08/06/0413/01261.html}} the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 6 September 2002,{{cite press release | access-date = 14 April 2020 | date= 6 September 2002 | publisher = Holy See Press Office |language=it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 06.09.2002 | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2002/09/06/0448/01374.html }} the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on 8 November 2002,{{cite press release | access-date = 14 April 2020 | date= 8 November 2002 | publisher = Holy See Press Office |language=it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 08.11.2002 | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2002/11/08/0553/01739.html }} the Special Council for Asia of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops on 28 May 2004,{{cite press release | access-date = 14 April 2020 | date= 28 May 2004 | publisher = Holy See Press Office |language=it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 28.05.2004 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/05/28/0266/00869.html }} and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts on 20 November 2004.{{cite press release | access-date = 14 April 2020 | date= 20 November 2004 | publisher = Holy See Press Office |language=it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 20.11.2004 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/11/20/0566/01835.html }}

On 20 May 2006, he was appointed Archbishop of Naples.{{cite press release |language=it| date= 20 May 2006 |url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2006/05/20/0259/00754.html | title= Rinunce e Nomine, 20.05.2006 |access-date = 20 November 2018 |publisher = Holy See Press Office}} With that appointment, he became a Cardinal-Priest with his deaconry elevated pro hac vice to title.{{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2006/05/20/0259/00754.html|title=Rinunce e nomine|date=20 May 2006|website=Sala Stampa della Santa Sede|language=it|trans-title=Resignations and Appointments|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217024028/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2006/05/20/0259/00754.html|archive-date=17 February 2018|url-status=live}} He was the first head of a Roman dicastery in decades to be given a diocesan appointment.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}{{efn|In a similar way, Pope Benedict moved Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith from his position as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to head the Archdiocese of Colombo in 2009.}} He disputed the idea that his reassignment to Naples from the Roman Curia represented a demotion. Sepe said that when Benedict asked for his reaction in advance, he agreed because it was how he wanted to end his career.{{cite news | access-date = 13 April 2020 | title = Cardinal in Vatican corruption inquiry denies guilt | work = The Guardian | date= 21 June 2010 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/21/cardinal-vatican-corruption-investigation | agency = Associated Press }} Others thought Pope Benedict preferred to have a prelate from a traditional missionary country, in this instance Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias, lead the Congregation responsible for missionary work.{{efn|Pope Francis made a similar change in 2019, replacing the Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni with the Philippine Cardinal Luis Tagle.{{cite news | access-date = 14 April 2020 | url = https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/why-pope-francis-appointment-of-cardinal-tagle-is-significant | work = National Catholic Register | title =Why Pope Francis' Appointment of Cardinal Tagle Is Significant| date= 12 December 2019}}}}

In 2007 he called for an end to gang violence.{{cite book | access-date = 13 April 2020 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_WhiWh3QRoYC&pg=PA89 | page=89 | title= Otto centimetri di morte. La fine del sogno di Luigi Sica | language = it | first = Giuliana |last= Covella | publisher = Guida Editori | date=2010| isbn=9788860428318 }}

In June 2010, Sepe was under investigation by Perugia's public prosecutor's office for financial corruption in connection with the renovation and sale of some of the Congregation's properties.{{cite news | language = it |url= http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/201006articoli/56050girata.asp |title= Corruzione, indagati Sepe e Lunardi | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623013004/http://lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/201006articoli/56050girata.asp |archive-date=23 June 2010 |work= La Stampa |date=19 June 2010}} Media reports alleged that during his time as prefect, he sold property owned by the Congregation at discounted prices to politicians positioned to help the Congregation.{{cite news | work = The Independent | access-date = 13 April 2020 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/faith/made-in-his-own-image-the-catholic-church-faces-another-scandal-2012093.html | title = Made in his own image: The Catholic Church faces another scandal | date= 28 June 2010}} Sepe said that he has "nothing to hide" and he was expected to waive the diplomatic immunity afforded by his Vatican passport and meet investigators.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0619/1224272868855.html |title=Cardinal may be witness in 'favours' case |newspaper=The Irish Times|date=19 June 2010 | first = Paddy | last = Agnew | access-date = 13 April 2020 }}

In March 2018 Sepe forwarded to the Vatican a 1,200-page dossier compiled by Francesco Mangiacapra, a male escort, that purported to identify 40 actively gay Catholic priests. He said: "those who have erred must pay the price, and be helped to repent for the harm done".{{cite news | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gay-catholic-priests-vatican_us_5a9d79b2e4b0a0ba4ad6a1d4 | access-date = 20 November 2018 | work = HuffPost| date = 5 March 2018 | title = Italian Cardinal Sends List of Purportedly Gay Catholic Clergy To Vatican| first = Carol | last= Kuruvilla}}

He has been a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.{{cite web| access-date = 13 April 2020| title= Sepe Card. Crescenzio |publisher= Holy See Press Office | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sepe_c.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070435/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sepe_c.html }}

He formally retired as Archbishop of Naples in 12 December 2020, with the appointment of his successor, Domenico Battaglia, at the time Bishop of Diocese of Cerreto Sannita–Telese–Sant’Agata de’ Goti.

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• {{cite web | language =it | website = Chiesa di Napoli | title= Biografia del Cardinale Crescenzio Sepe |url = https://www.chiesadinapoli.it/arcivescovo/biografia-del-cardinale-crescenzio-sepe/ }}
• {{cite web| title= Sepe Card. Crescenzio |publisher= Holy See Press Office | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sepe_c.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070435/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sepe_c.html }}

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Category:21st-century Italian cardinals

Category:Archbishops of Naples

Category:Sapienza University of Rome alumni

Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni

Category:Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni

Category:Pontifical Roman Seminary alumni

Category:Members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

Category:Members of the Congregation for the Clergy

Category:Members of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II

Category:People from the Province of Caserta

Category:1943 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Italian Roman Catholic archbishops

Category:Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II