Justin Rigali

The youngest of seven children, Justin Rigali was born on April 19, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, to Henry Alphonsus and Frances Irene (née White) Rigali. His sister Charlotte joined the Sisters of St. Joseph and his brother Norbert the Society of Jesus. Rigali attended Holy Cross School before entering the preparatory seminary in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, in 1949.{{Cite web |date=January 2015 |title=CARDINAL JUSTIN FRANCIS RIGALI Biography |url=https://archphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/rigali-biography.html |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=Archdiocese of Philadelphia}}

Rigali studied at one of the Los Angeles College campuses, at Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary in San Fernando, California, and at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California.

Rigali was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre on April 25, 1961.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-11 |title=Cardinal's 60 years of priesthood cover volumes of memorable moments |url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2021/06/cardinals-60-years-of-priesthood-cover-volumes-of-memorable-moments/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Crux |language=en}} After his ordination, Rigali received pastoral assignments at parishes in Los Angeles and Downey, California.

In 1961, Rigali earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In October 1961, he entered the graduate division of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, obtaining a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1964.

While in Rome, Rigali served as an assistant during the first two sessions (1962–1963) of the Second Vatican Council.{{cite web | work = The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church | title = Rigali, Justin Francis | url = http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-r.htm#Rigali | last = Miranda | first = Salvador | access-date = April 11, 2009 | archive-date = October 8, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008233354/http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-r.htm#Rigali | url-status = dead }} Rigali returned to California in the summer of 1964 and was briefly assigned as an associate pastor at a parish in Pomona.{{cite web |date=May 2010 |title=Justin Francis Cardinal Rigali Biography |url=http://archdiocese-phl.org/rigali/biorigali.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614023117/http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/rigali/biorigali.htm |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |publisher=Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia |df=mdy-all}} Back to Rome, he studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy from 1964 to 1966 in preparation for his diplomatic work for the Vatican.

Rigali began his service in the English section of the Secretariat of State on November 25, 1964. From September 1966 to February 1970, he served as secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature to Madagascar. The Vatican named Rigali as a papal chamberlain on July 11, 1967. On February 11, 1970, Rigali became director of the English section of the Secretariat of State. He also served as the English translator for Pope Paul VI, accompanying him on several international trips.

During his service at the Secretariat of State, Rigali also served as a chaplain at a Carmelite monastery and as a professor at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. He accompanied Pope John Paul II on several international trips, including his 1979 and 1987 visits to the United States. The Vatican elevated Rigali to a prelate of honor on April 19, 1980, and hw was appointed a magistral chaplain in the Order of the Knights of Malta on October 25, 1984.

{{Ordination

| consecrated by = Pope John Paul II

| date of consecration = September 14, 1985

| bishop 1 = Edward Kenneth Braxton

| consecration date 1 = May 17, 1995

| bishop 2 = John R. Gaydos

| consecration date 2 = August 27, 1997

| bishop 3 = Michael John Sheridan

| consecration date 3 = September 3, 1997

| bishop 4 = Joseph Fred Naumann

| consecration date 4 = September 3, 1997

| bishop 5 = Timothy Michael Dolan

| consecration date 5 = August 15, 2001

| bishop 6 = Robert Joseph Hermann

| consecration date 6 = December 12, 2002

| bishop 7 = Lawrence Eugene Brandt

| consecration date 7 = March 4, 2004

| bishop 8 = Joseph R. Cistone

| consecration date 8 = July 28, 2004

| bishop 9 = Joseph P. McFadden

| consecration date 9 = July 28, 2004

| bishop 10 = Kevin C. Rhoades

| consecration date 10 = December 9, 2004

| bishop 11 = Daniel E. Thomas

| consecration date 11 = July 26, 2006

| bishop 12 = Richard Stika

| consecration date 12 = March 19, 2009

| bishop 13 = Timothy C. Senior

| consecration date 13 = July 31, 2009

| bishop 14 = Joseph Bambera

| consecration date 14 = April 26, 2010

| bishop 15 = John J. McIntyre

| consecration date 15 = August 6, 2010

| bishop 16 = Michael J. Fitzgerald

| consecration date 16 = August 6, 2010

}}

On June 8, 1985, Rigali was appointed president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy and titular archbishop of Volsinium by John Paul II.{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-77-1985-ocr.pdf | date=1985 | volume = LXXVII | page=773 | access-date = 2 June 2020 }} He received his episcopal consecration on September 14, 1985, from John Paul II, with Cardinals Eduardo Somalo and Achille Silvestrini as co-consecrators, at Albano Cathedral in Lazio, Italy.{{Cite web |title=Justin Francis Cardinal Rigali [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brigali.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}} Rigali selected as his episcopal motto: Verbum Caro Factum Est, meaning, "The Word Became Flesh" ({{Bibleverse|John|1:14}}). He was named a member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre on October 13, 1986.

From 1985 to 1990, Rigali also held several positions within the Roman Curia:

• Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops, appointed by John Paul II on December 21, 1989; he was the second-highest official of that dicastery.
• Secretary of the College of Cardinals, named by John Paul II on January 2, 1990
• Member of the Permanent Interdicasterial Commission
• Member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America
• Member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
• Member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
• Member of the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church

During the same time, Rigali also provided pastoral service to parishes and seminaries in Rome.

On January 25, 1994, John Paul II named Rigali as the seventh archbishop of St. Louis. Rigali was installed in St. Louis, Missouri, by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin on March 15, 1994.

Rigali became a member of the Knights of Columbus on November 7, 1994. During his tenure at St. Louis, Rigali showed a great interest in schools, visiting every Catholic high school in the archdiocese.{{cite web|publisher=Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis |title=1994–2000: A New Springtime of Faith |url=http://www.archstl.org/archives/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=214&Itemid=265 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130112124423/http://www.archstl.org/archives/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=214&Itemid=265 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2013 }} However, Rigali opposed collective bargaining by teachers and opposed any efforts they made to unionize. Rigali was widely credited as an able administrator and effective fundraiser, although observers said that his popularity dimmed as his tenure continued.

In January 1999, Rigali hosted the visit of John Paul II to St. Louis. The pope reportedly decided to visit the archdiocese because of his longtime close friendship with Rigali in Rome.

According to the St. Louis Business Journal, Rigali "brought financial stability to the St. Louis Archdiocese, overseeing successful capital campaigns to address immediate needs and raising endowment funds for the future."{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2000 |title=Archbishop Justin Rigali |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2000/01/31/focus75.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Biz Journals}}

Rigali was appointed the eighth archbishop of Philadelphia by John Paul II on July 15, 2003.{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-16-na-bishop16-story.html | newspaper=The Los Angeles Times | title=New Archbishop Named in Philadelphia | first=Larry B. | last=Stammer | date=July 16, 2003}} He was installed as archbishop on October 7, 2003. On September 28, 2003, the Vatican elevated Rigali to the College of Cardinals, a customary privilege for the archbishops of Philadelphia. Rigali was created as cardinal-priest of Santa Prisca in Rome during the consistory of October 21, 2003.

Rigali was the only American cardinal to serve as a concelebrant at the 2005 funeral Mass for John Paul II. He was also one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave, which selected Pope Benedict XVI.

In September 2007, Rigali was named by Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Congregation for Bishops. On August 31, 2009, Benedict XVI appointed Rigali as the apostolic administrator to the Diocese of Scranton, following the resignations of Bishop Joseph Martino and Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty. Rigali served eight months as the apostolic administrator.

On June 16, 2011, Benedict XVI appointed Rigali to serve as his special envoy to the celebrations at Prachatice in the Czech Republic for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bishop John Neumann.{{cite web|url=http://www.zenit.org/article-32869?l=english |title=Cardinal Rigali named envoy for St. John Neumann event |publisher=ZENIT |date=June 16, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927021000/http://www.zenit.org/article-32869?l=english |archive-date=September 27, 2012 }}

On July 19, 2011, Benedict XVI accepted Rigali's resignation as archbishop of Philadelphia and named Archbishop Charles J. Chaput to succeed him.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/us/20bishop.html|title=Philadelphia's Cardinal Rigali Retires Amid Scandal|first=Katharine Q.|last=Seelye|date=July 19, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 22, 2017}} Chaput was installed as archbishop on September 8, 2011.{{cite news |last=Allen |first=John L. Jr. |date=July 18, 2011 |title=Pope taps Chaput for Philadelphia |work=National Catholic Reporter |url=http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-taps-chaput-philadelphia |access-date=July 19, 2011}}{{cite news |date=July 19, 2011 |title=Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Named Archbishop of Philadelphia |work=Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia |url=http://archphila.org/press%20releases/pr001822.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723234244/http://archphila.org/press%20releases/pr001822.htm |archive-date=July 23, 2011}} Rigali then retired in residence at the Diocese of Knoxville. He was invited there by Bishop Richard Stika, with whom he shares living quarters.{{Cite web|url=https://dioknox.org/leadership/office-of-cardinal-rigali/|title=Office of Cardinal Rigali|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128120533/https://dioknox.org/leadership/office-of-cardinal-rigali/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web| url = https://dioknox.org/tag/cardinal-justin-rigali/| title = Reference at dioknox.org| access-date = January 29, 2018| archive-date = January 28, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200128120530/https://dioknox.org/tag/cardinal-justin-rigali/| url-status = dead}}

Rigali participated in the 2013 conclave that selected Pope Francis. Rigali remained eligible to vote in conclaves until he reached 80 on April 19, 2015. In December 2013, Rigali retired from the Congregation for Bishops.{{cite news|last=Yardley |first=Jim |title=Pope Replaces Conservative U.S. Cardinal on Influential Vatican Committee|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/world/europe/pope-replaces-conservative-us-cardinal-on-influential-vatican-committee.html|access-date=January 6, 2014 | newspaper=The New York Times | date=December 16, 2014}} During this period, Rigali participated in some activities in the Diocese of Nashville.{{cite web| url = http://dioceseofnashville.com/search?query=Rigali| title = Reference at dioceseofnashville.com| access-date = January 29, 2018| archive-date = January 29, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141030/http://dioceseofnashville.com/search?query=Rigali| url-status = dead}} In January 2023, Rigali was hospitalized in Knoxville, Tennessee, for a few days for an undisclosed medical condition.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-19 |title=Retired archbishop of Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali hospitalized for 'medical condition' |url=http://thedialog.org/national-news/retired-archbishop-of-philadelphia-cardinal-justin-rigali/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=The Dialog |language=en}}

{{see also|Sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia}}

In October 2005, a grand jury empaneled in 2003 by Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham released a report on the cover-ups of sexual abuse by clergy in the archdiocese.{{Cite web |last=CIPRIANO |first=RALPH |date=October 7, 2005 |title=Philadelphia Report: Grand jury findings |url=https://natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2005d/100705/100705a.php |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=National Catholic Reporter}} In response to the report, Rigali stated that “no priests in ministry today who have an admitted or established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against them.” However, some groups disputed the accuracy of that statement.{{Cite web |title=Cardinal Rigali addresses Catholics on grand jury findings |url=https://whyy.org/articles/cardinal-rigali-addresses-catholics-on-grand-jury-findings/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=WHYY |language=en-US}}

In 2007, a former Catholic high school student reported that he had been repeatedly molested by Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The alleged abuse took place when Bransfield was priest teaching Lansdale Catholic High School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, during the 1970s.{{Cite news |last1=Jr |first1=Robert O'Harrow |last2=Boburg |first2=Shawn |date=2019-11-30 |title='They looked the other way': Sexual abuse claim dismissed by church foreshadowed years of allegations against Catholic bishop |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/they-looked-the-other-way-sexual-abuse-claim-dismissed-by-church-foreshadowed-years-of-allegations-against-catholic-bishop/2019/11/29/874c118e-0659-11ea-a5e2-fccc16fa3576_story.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |issn=0190-8286}} Rigali, then archbishop of Philadelphia, announced in October 2009 that the allegations could not be substantiated and took no action against Bransfield.

In 2011, Bransfield gave $1,000 to Rigali. Bransfield made other cash gifts to senior clerics in the archdiocese, including Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, the vicar for clergy. One of Bransfield's accusers said that Rigali and other archdiocesan officials "looked the other way" and failed to inform him about the church's handling of his complaint.

In early 2011, another grand jury in Philadelphia reported that the archdiocese was still negligent in its handling of sexual abuse accusations against clergy. In March 2011, Rigali suspended 21 priests in a single day, "prompting criticism that he should have alerted prosecutors sooner."{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2011 |title=Priests put on leave |url=https://whyy.org/articles/priest-post/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=WHYY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2011-03-29 |title=Third Grand Jury Report Examined In Philadelphia Archdiocese Sex Abuse Case - CBS Philadelphia |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/third-grand-jury-report-examined-in-philadelphia-archdiocese-sex-abuse-case/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

In June 2006, Rigali traveled to the White House along with Archbishop John J. Myers and Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley to attend a press conference by US President George W. Bush. The purpose was to support passage of the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment to the US Constitution in the United States Senate, which would ban civil unions and marriages by same sex couples. The amendment did not pass the senate in 2006 or in later years.

As chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Pro-Life Committee, he remarked during the annual Washington, DC, Pro life rally in January 2007 that there were "reasons for rejoicing" in the pro-life cause because more and more young people were working for the cause, and that there was a "growing moral sensitivity among them."{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} In 2009, Rigali endorsed passage of the Pregnant Women Support Act in Congress. He praised the bill for offering "an authentic common ground" that will provide many kinds of life-affirming support for pregnant women and their unborn children.{{cite press release | url = http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-091.shtml | title = Cardinal Rigali praises House re-introduction of 'Pregnant Women Support Act', urges co-sponsorship | date = April 23, 2009 | publisher = USCCB Department of Communications | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090429184324/http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-091.shtml | archive-date = April 29, 2009 | url-status = dead}} The bill did not pass congress.

In November 2009, Rigali, along with other Catholic prelates and religious leaders from other denominations, signed the Manhattan Declaration. The document reiterated conservative viewpoints on marriage and religious freedom .{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=November 20, 2009 |title=Manhattan Declaration |url=https://www.manhattandeclaration.org/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |language=en-US}}

In March 2009, Rigali described President Barack Obama's lifting of George W. Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research as "a sad victory of politics over science and ethics."{{cite news|date=March 12, 2009 |newspaper=Catholic New York |title=Cardinal Rigali Says Obama Stem-cell Policy Favors Politics Over Ethics |url=http://www.cny.org/archive/ld/ld2031209.htm }} {{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In April 2009, Rigali denounced the ordination ceremony of two Catholic women in Philadelphia, calling it a "pseudo-ordination" that "denigrates the truth entrusted to the Church by Christ himself." He excommunicated the two participants{{cite news|date=April 26, 2009 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |title=Risking heresy to serve as priests |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/religion/20090426_Risking_heresy_to_serve_as_priests.html |last=O'Reilly |first=David |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430125805/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/religion/20090426_Risking_heresy_to_serve_as_priests.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009 }}{{cite web |title=Participants in 'pseudo-ordination' excommunicated, Cardinal Rigali announces |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/15800/participants-in-pseudo-ordination-excommunicated-cardinal-rigali-announces |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=Catholic News Agency |publisher=CNA}}

Rigali has run a weekly series of Lenten discourses on YouTube. In 2010, he established an official Facebook page.

Rigali is an honorary council member of the St. Louis, Missouri–based humanitarian organization Wings of Hope.{{cite web | url = http://wings-of-hope.org | title = Our Supporters | publisher = Wings of Hope | access-date = June 30, 2011}}

• Catholic Church in the United States
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• [https://rigali.podbean.com/ PodBean: Cardinal Justin Rigali - Podcast]
• [https://dioknox.org/leadership/office-of-cardinal-rigali/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville: Office of Cardinal Rigali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128120533/https://dioknox.org/leadership/office-of-cardinal-rigali/ |date=January 28, 2020 }}
• [https://dioknox.org/tag/cardinal-justin-rigali/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville: Tag Archive: Cardinal Justin Rigali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128120530/https://dioknox.org/tag/cardinal-justin-rigali/ |date=January 28, 2020 }}
• {{cite web| access-date = 26 November 2017| title= Rigali Card. Justin Francis |publisher= Holy See Press Office | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rigali_jf.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904061941/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_rigali_jf.html }}

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{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}}

{{US-RC-cardinals}}

{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia}}

{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis}}

{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rigali, Justin}}

Category:1935 births

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