Renato Martino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Renato Raffaele Martino |
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| Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals | |
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Martino in 2011
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 12 June 2014 |
| Predecessor | Jean-Louis Tauran |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Deacon of S. Francesco di Paola ai Monti |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 June 1957 |
| Consecration | 14 December 1980 by Agostino Casaroli |
| Created Cardinal | 21 October 2003 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Renato Raffaele Martino |
| Born | 23 November 1932 Salerno, Italy |
| Died | 28 October 2024 (aged 91) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian and Vatican |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post |
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| Alma mater | Pontifical Gregorian University, Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy |
| Motto | Virtus ex Alto ("Power from on high") |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Renato Martino |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Segerme (titular) |
Renato Raffaele Martino (23 November 1932 – 28 October 2024) was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Created a cardinal in 2003, Martino became the longest serving cardinal deacon, the cardinal protodeacon, from June 2014. He served for more than twenty years in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, including sixteen years as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. He held positions in the Roman Curia from 2002 to 2009.
Early life
Born in Salerno, Martino was ordained as a priest in 1957. He held a doctorate in Canon law and was fluent in Italian, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
To prepare for a diplomatic career he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1960. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1962, serving in Nicaragua, the Philippines, Lebanon, Canada, and Brazil.
Apostolic Nuncio
While serving at the Apostolic Nunciature in Brazil, Martino was named Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Thailand on 14 September 1980, and also Apostolic Delegate to Singapore, Malaysia, Laos and Brunei Darussalam, and Titular Archbishop of Segerme.
On 3 December 1986, he was appointed Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. He was in that post during the United States invasion of Panama, when president Manuel Noriega took refuge at the Vatican embassy.
In 1991, he opposed the American-led invasion of Iraq and was later critical of state sanctions against Iraq. In 1992, he participated at the UN Conference for the environment in Rio de Janeiro, speaking about the "centrality of the human person".
In June 1994, Martino demanded at the UN that a "safe haven" be created for Tutsi refugees in Rwanda in order to save over 30 000 lives in Kabgayi.
In September 1994, he was the official spokesman for the Holy See at the International Conference on Population and Development.
Martino was Pope John Paul II's official representative at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development.
Later in 1995, he participated at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, echoing John Paul's positions in his Letter to Women. He was on a diplomatic mission to Côte d'Ivoire to settle disputes there.
Roman Curia
On 1 October 2002, Martino was named President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
In November 2003, he championed the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to alleviate world hunger at a conference that he organized to consider the morality of GMOs, which troubled critics concerned about the risks they pose to the environment and health.
Martino was elevated to the College of Cardinals in the consistory of 21 October 2003 becoming cardinal deacon of S. Francesco di Paola ai Monti. Martino was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Martino was named President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants on 11 March 2006.
In November 2006, Martino called plans by the Bush administration to construct an additional 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border "an inhumane program". He also said that Muslims in Europe should respect local laws restricting the wearing of certain types of veils. He said: "It seems elementary to me and it is quite right that the authorities demand it." He said they "must respect the traditions, symbols, culture and religion of the countries they move to".
Martino took a great interest in automobiles and has proclaimed the Ten Commandments for Drivers. He collaborated with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
Retirement
Martino submitted his resignation as required when he reached the age of 75. On 28 February 2009, Pope Benedict relieved Martino of the presidency of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, appointing Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò to succeed him. On 24 October 2009, Pope Benedict named Cardinal Peter Turkson to succeed Martino as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
In July 2010, Martino assumed the position of Honorary President of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, a Rome-based organisation established to promote human dignity "based on the recognition that man is made in the image and likeness of God". He resigned in 2019.
In November 2010, Martino was appointed by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro as Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. On 25 June 2012 Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro appointed him Knight of the Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius.
On 8 October 2011, he was named special papal envoy to the celebration of the centenary of the cathedral of Yangon, Burma, scheduled for 8 December 2011. Martino met with Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, a Buddhist, before the Mass.
Though too old to participate in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, Martino was one of the six cardinals who made the public act of obedience on behalf of the College of Cardinals to the new pope at his papal inauguration.
On 12 June 2014, Martino became the longest-serving cardinal deacon following the elevation of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran to the rank of Cardinal-Priest. Martino had declined to exercise his option of taking the title of cardinal priest after ten years as a cardinal deacon.
In letters dated 21 July 2017, the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda issued notice that Martino's 2014 appointment to the Order of the Nation had been annulled.
Martino died in Rome on 28 October 2024, at the age of 91.
See also
In Spanish: Renato Raffaele Martino para niños
