Giuseppe Betori (born 25 February 1947) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who was Archbishop of Florence from 2008 to 2024. He became a bishop in 2001 when he was appointed secretary general of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), a post he held until 2008. He was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2012.
Biography
Giuseppe Betori was born in Foligno, Italy, on 25 February 1947. He was ordained a priest on 26 September 1970. He earned a licentiate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a doctorate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. While serving in local parishes in Foligno he was Professor of Sacred Scripture and Dean of the Theological Institute of Assisi; diocesan assistant of Catholic Action; director of the Regional Pastoral Centre; assistant at the Youth Pastoral Center of the S. Carlo Institute in Foligno; coordinator of the Secretariat of the Ecclesiastical Conference held in Palermo in 1995; vice-president of the Italian Committee for the XV World Youth Day; and director of the Catechistic Office of the CEI.[1] He also served as undersecretary of Italian Episcopal Conference from 1996 to 2001.[citation needed]
The coat of arms of H.E. Mgr Giuseppe Betori, as archbishop of Florence before his elevation to Cardinal, as seen on the façade of the archbishop's residence
In 2005, Betori supported a ban on the ordination of homosexuals. He said this could not be called "discrimination" because a priestly vocation is a "gift" rather than a "right".[3]
His appointment as secretary general of the CEI was confirmed for another five-year term on 6 April 2006.[4]
Pope Benedict XVI named Betori archbishop of Florence on 8 September 2008.[2] He ended his service as secretary general of the CEI on 25 September 2008 and was installed in Florence the next day. He was elected president of the Episcopal Conference of Tuscany on 10 February 2009.
On 5 November 2011, Betori survived an apparent assassination attempt. An unidentified man confronted him outside his office, shot and wounded his secretary, and waved a gun at the Betori before fleeing. Betori and other witnesses said they could not make sense of what the gunman said or intended as he gestured toward Betori with his the gun.[5]
