College of Cardinals

Biographical notes

[Updated: 22.02.2014]

Notice: the biographical notes are only a working instrument for the press.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, was born in Barga, in the province of Lucca, archdiocese of Pisa, on 29 September, 1940.

He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1963 and incardinated in Pisa.

A graduate in canon law, he entered into the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 3 December 1973, and subsequently worked in the pontifical representations in Guatemala, Japan, Brazil, Paraguay, France and Zimbabwe.

As charge d'affaires ad interim, he was transferred to the apostolic nunciature in Haiti on 16 January 1991.

On 15 January 1992, he was appointed titular archbishop of Diocleziana and apostolic nuncio to Haiti. In succession, he received Episcopal ordination on 7 March.

He was transferred to the nunciature in Paraguay on 6 April 1995 and to the representation in India and Nepal on 19 June 1999. On 12 November 2002, he was appointed as apostolic nuncio in Brazil where he welcomed Pope Benedict XVI during his trip in 2007.

On 11 January 2012, he was appointed as secretary of the Congregation for Bishops and on 7 March 2012, Secretary of the College of Cardinals.

On 21 September 2013 Pope Francis appointed him as secretary general of the Synod of Bishops.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 22 February 2014, of the Deaconry of Sant’Anselmo all’Aventino.