On December 31, 2024, Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, passed away at the age of 86.
Vocation and Formation
Born on June 8, 1938, in Molfetta, Italy, Angelo Amato grew up in a family dedicated to shipbuilding. He was the eldest of four children and began his education at the Nautical Institute of Bari. However, in 1953, he changed course by entering the Salesian aspirant of Torre Annunziata. In 1956, he made his first religious profession and moved to Rome to study at the Pontifical Salesian Athenaeum, where he obtained a license in philosophy. He made his perpetual profession in 1962 and was ordained a priest on December 22, 1967.
Studies and Encounters with the Orthodox World
Amato continued his education at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he received a doctorate in theology in 1974. In 1977, he was sent to Greece to further his knowledge of Orthodox theology, residing at the Vlatadon Monastery in Thessaloniki. There, he attended classes and researched the sacrament of penance in Greek Orthodox theology, publishing his work in 1982.
Academic Career and Roles in the Vatican
Back in Rome, Amato taught Christology at the Pontifical Salesian University, where he held the positions of dean and vice-rector. He was also a consultant to various Vatican congregations and a member of the theological-historical commission for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
In 2002, he was appointed secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and consecrated archbishop by Pope John Paul II in 2003. In 2008, Benedict XVI appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and created him a cardinal in 2010. He participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis and continued as Prefect until 2018.
Legacy and Later Years
Cardinal Amato was a key figure in the beatification and canonization of many religious figures, including the diocesan phase of the beatification process of Don Tonino Bello in 2013. The Bishop of Molfetta, Monsignor Domenico Cornacchia, remembered him as a man of faith and tireless pastor, standing out for his dedication to the Church and the people of God. His life and work leave an indelible mark on the history of the Catholic Church.
