Profile of Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe

by Gianni Cardinale

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe was born in Carinaro, in the province of Caserta and diocese of Aversa, in 1943. After studying Theology at the Pontifical Roman Upper Seminary he was ordained priest in 1967. Afterward he gained a degree in Theology and a license in Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University and a degree in Philosophy at the “La Sapienza” University of Rome.
After his studies at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, in 1972 he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See and was posted to the pontifical Representation in Brazil, where he remained for three years. In the 1975 the then Substitute, Archbishop Giovanni Benelli, called him to the Secretariat of State, where he worked first in the international section, dealing in particular with international organisms, such as Unesco with headquarters in Paris, and then in the “Information and documentation” Office.
In 1987 he was appointed auditor for General Affairs. In 1992 John Paul II nominated him archbishop and secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. In 1997 he was appointed general secretary of the Committee and of the Council presiding over the Grand Jubilee of 2000. He then supervised the preparation and organization of the Holy Year. Created cardinal in February 2001, in the following April he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Cardinal Sepe is a member of the Congregation for the Clergy and of that for the Doctrine of the Faith; of the Pontifical Councils for Interreligious Dialogue, Social Communications, Promotion of Christian Unity, Legislative Texts.