Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa, turns 80 years old today and thus leaves the ranks of the electors in a future conclave: in fact, he was born in Pontevico on January 14, 1943.

He was ordained a priest in Genoa on June 29, 1966, by Cardinal Giuseppe Siri.

In 1979 he graduated in philosophy from the State University of Genoa.

A professor of metaphysics and contemporary atheism at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy, he was a diocesan assistant of the Federation of Italian Catholic University Students and a scouts assistant.

From 1986 to 1994, he was dean and lecturer at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Genoa.

On January 3, 1998, he was elected by John Paul II as bishop of Pesaro. He was consecrated by Archbishop – future Cardinal – Dionigi Tettamanzi. On March 11, 2000, he became its first metropolitan archbishop.

On June 20, 2003, he was appointed ordinary military archbishop for Italy by John Paul II himself.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Genoa on August 29, 2006, succeeding Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was, in turn, chosen by the Pope as Secretary of State.

From 2007 to 2017, he was president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference.

Pope Benedict XVI created him Cardinal of Santa Romana in the consistory of November 24, 2007, with the title of the Great Mother of God.

He participated in the Synods of 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2019.

In March 2013, he participated in the conclave that elected Pope Francis.

From 2016 to 2021, he was president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE).

He has been archbishop emeritus of Genoa since May 2020 due to the age limit.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News.