The Grand Master

His Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni – Grand Master

Biography

His Eminence, Cardinal Fernando Filoni was born on 15 April 1946 in Manduria (Taranto, Italy), but at an early age, his family moved back to their original town of origin Galatone (Lecce). He attended middle school in the minor seminary of Nardò before completing his high school studies in Molfetta at the Pugliese Regional Seminary Pio XI and theology studies in Viterbo at the Seminary Santa Maria della Quercia.

Monsignor Antonio Rosario Mennonna, Bishop of Nardò, ordained him a priest on 3 July 1970 in Galatone. He attended the Pontifical Lateran University, where he obtained a degree in canon law, and the La Sapienza State University, where he graduated in philosophy. He then pursued further studies at the Pro Deo (now known as the Free International University of Social Studies – LUISS) earning a postgraduate diploma in Political and Social Sciences, specializing in journalism. During this period in Rome, he served as an assistant parish priest, focusing in particular on the education of young people and teaching at the classical high schools Vivona and Socrates.

At the end of his studies, the then Cardinal Vicar of Rome, Ugo Poletti, proposed that he enter the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. On 3 April 1981, he received his first diplomatic posting to Sri Lanka. After three years, he was sent to Iran (1983-1985). Later he was called to the Secretariat of State to follow relations with international organizations. In 1989, he was sent to Brazil until 1992, when he was formally accredited in the Philippines as a Cultural Attaché, with residence in Hong Kong, where the Holy See had opened a Study Mission to closely follow the situation of the Church in China.

On 17 January 2001, he was elected to the titular see of Volturno, with the dignity of Archbishop, and appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan and Iraq. He received episcopal ordination from Pope John Paul II in the Vatican Basilica on March 19, 2001.

In Baghdad (2001-2006), he was Nuncio during the last two years of Saddam Hussein’s regime, then during the war and in the following three years, until 25 February 2006, when Benedict XVI appointed him Pontifical Representative in the Philippines (2006-2007).

On 9 June 2007, he was appointed Deputy for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

On May 10, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, creating him a Cardinal Deacon on February 18, 2012, of Our Lady of Coromoto in St. John of God. On June 26, 2018, the Holy Father Francis designated him to the Order of Bishops.

His Eminence Cardinal Filoni’s Coat of Arms

On December 8, 2019, Pope Francis appointed him Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

He has authored many texts, including the book “The Church in Iraq”, translated into various languages.

He is a member of diverse Congregations.

Previous Grand Masters

Up until 1949, the Pope was Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Since then, this role has been passed to a Cardinal chosen and appointed by His Holiness the Pope.

His Eminence Cardinal Edwin F. O’Brien
2011-2019
His Eminence Cardinal John Patrick Foley
2007-2011
His Eminence Cardinal Carlo Furno
1995-2007
His Eminence Cardinal Giuseppe Caprio
1988-1995
His Eminence Cardinal Maximilien de Furstenberg
1972-1988
His Eminence Cardinal Eugene Tisserant
1960-1972
His Eminence Cardinal Nicola Canali
1949-1960