Aldo Giordano

His Excellency

Aldo Giordano
Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union
Giordano in 2013
Appointed8 May 2021
Term ended2 December 2021
PredecessorAlain Paul Lebeaupin
SuccessorNoël Treanor
Other post(s)Titular archbishop of Tamada
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination28 July 1979
Consecration14 December 2013
by Pietro Parolin
Personal details
Born(1954-08-20)20 August 1954
Cuneo, Italy
Died2 December 2021(2021-12-02) (aged 67)
Louvain, Belgium
NationalityItalian
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
Styles of
Aldo Giordano
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Aldo Giordano (20 August 1954 – 2 December 2021) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who was Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union in 2021. He was previously Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela from 2013 to 2021 and before that the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg from 2008 to 2013.

From his ordination in 1979 to 1995 he did pastoral work and taught in his native city of Cuneo. He then served as secretary-general of the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe, based in Switzerland, for thirteen years.

Biography

Giordano was born in Cuneo, Italy. He attended the last year of elementary school and middle and high school in the Seminary of Cuneo (1965–1973). He completed his studies in philosophy and theology and obtained a bachelor's degree in 1978. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cuneo on 28 July 1979.[1]

From 1978 to 1982, he studied philosophy in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was awarded a licentiate in 1980 and a doctorate on the thought of Nietzsche in 1982. During this time he was vice pastor of the parish of SS. Sacramento sulla Prenestina.[1]

From 1982 to 1996, Giordano served as professor of philosophy at the Inter-Diocesan School in Fossano (Cuneo). At the diocesan level he taught the history of philosophy in the seminary high school and he has taught courses on ethics in the school of theology for lay people. He worked as a curate in the parish of S. Pius X in Cuneo and followed the diocesan pastoral areas of politics, economics, medicine and culture.[1]

On 15 May 1995, he was elected secretary-general Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe and was transferred to St. Gallen, Switzerland, where it is headquartered. He served in this role for 13 years. In 2002 he was awarded the title Chaplain of His Holiness and in 2006 Prelate of His Holiness.[1]

On 7 July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.[2]

On 26 October 2013, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela and Titular Archbishop of the Tamada. He succeeded Pietro Parolin who left the nuncio's position to become Secretary of State.[1] Parolin ordained Giordano a bishop at the Sports Palace of San Rocco Castagnaretta in Cuneo on 14 December.[3]

On 8 May 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union.[4]

Giordano died from complications of COVID-19 on 2 December 2021, after having spent weeks at a hospital in Louvain.[5]

Writings

  • La questione etica. Una sfida della memoria (in Italian). Rome: Città Nuova. 1990. ISBN 8831132423.
  • With F. Tomatis. Cristianesimo ed Europa. La sfida della mondialità (in Italian). Rome: Città Nuova. 1993. ISBN 8831132490.
  • Un'altra Europa è possibile. Ideali cristiani e prospettive per il vecchio continente (in Italian). Cinisello Balsamo: San Paolo. 2013. ISBN 9788821579844.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Rinunce e nomine, 26.10.2013" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 07.06.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  3. ^ Ribero, Aldo; Boratto, Lorenzo (14 December 2013). "In quattromila al Palazzetto per l'ordinazione episcopale di monsignor Aldo Giordano". La Stampa (in Italian). Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 08.05.2021" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  5. ^ Lorenzo, Boratto; Matteo, Borgetto (2 December 2021). "Morto di Covid monsignor Aldo Giordano: era stato contagiato a settembre durante un viaggio in Slovacchia con Papa Francesco". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe
7 July 2008 – 26 October 2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela
26 October 2013 – 8 May 2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union
8 May 2021 – 2 December 2021 		Succeeded by