College of Cardinals

Biographical notes

[Updated: 22.02.2014]

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

Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve(Italy), was born in Popolano di Marradi, in the archdiocese of Faenza-Modigliana, province of Florence, on 7 April 1942.

He attended the minor and major seminary of the archdiocese of Florence and was ordained a priest on 29 June 1966 in Florence.

He served as vicar in the parish of St. Michael in San Salvi; assistant and then rector of the minor seminary of Florence, and diocesan delegate for vocations. He was subsequently appointed rector of the major seminary of Florence.

He has served as head of the pastoral school, member of the presbyteral council and the college of consultors; honorary canon of the metropolitan Church, pro-vicar General and vicar general of Florence.

On 9 July 1994 he was nominated as bishop of Massa Marittima-Piombino and received episcopal ordination on 8 September.

He was transferred to Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro on 21 November 1998.

On 16 July 2009, the Pope appointed him archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve (Italy).

He has held various roles in the CEI, including delegate for seminaries in Italy and member of the Episcopal Commission of the Italian Episcopal Conference for Clergy and Consecrated Life; member of the board of management of the Catholic Committee for the Cultural Collaboration with Orthodox Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Currently, he is vice-president of the CEI for central Italy.