Camillo Cardinal Ruini

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Camillo Ruini (born February 19, 1931) is an Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal Priest. He is very active in the mass media and is one of the cardinals to appear most often on Italian TV, newspapers and magazines. He serves as the current Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome and archpriest of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. On February 14 2006 he was confirmed as president of the Italian Episcopal Conference by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.

Biography

Ruini was born at in Sassuolo, Emilia-Romagna. Having studied philosophy and theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, he obtained a licentiate in philosophy and theology.

He was ordained a priest December 8, 1954. In 1957 he returned to Reggio Emilia and taught philosophy at the diocesan seminary until 1968. From 1958 to 1966 he served as chaplain to Catholic University graduates and from 1966 to 1970 he served as a delegate for Azione Cattolica.

Among his teaching posts, from 1968 until 1986 he taught dogmatic theology at the Studio Teologico Interdiocesano of Modena-Reggio Emilia-Carpi-Guastalla, where he was also headmaster from 1968 to 1977.

In May 1983 he was named auxiliary bishop of Reggio Emilia and Guastalla, and was ordained bishop that June 29. As vice president of the Preparatory Committee, he contributed to the realization of the Ecclesial Convention of Loreto (1985), which has become a reference point in the dialogue between the Church and Italian society following the wounds of the 1960s and 1970s.

In June 1986 the Pope named him secretary-general of the Italian bishops' conference. Since 1988 he has been a consultor of the Congregation for Bishops. In January 1991 he was named auxiliary bishop and pro-vicar general for the Diocese of Rome. In March 1991 he became president of the Italian bishops' conference. He was named vicar general of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome and archpriest of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano in July 1991. He is also grand chancellor of the Lateran University.

He was elevated to Cardinal Priest of the Title of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in June 1991.

Curial membership:

Bishops (congregation)
Laity (council)
Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See (office)
Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Affairs of the Holy See

Ruini was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. Ruini remains eligible to participate in any future papal conclaves that begin before his 80th birthday on February 19, 2011.

Politics

Camillo Ruini is seen as a "conservative" catholic, close to the positions of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, although many people consider their views as "progressive". He is very active in the mass media, and was the strongest voice of the church against the spring 2005 referendum for the abolition of parts of Italy's restrictive laws on artificial insemination.

At times some crtics both in and outside the church have taken to giving Ruini the derogatory nickname "Cardinal Rovini", or "Cardinal Ruins", because his interference with other countries' internal affairs is considered by some to be damaging to the Catholic Church itself.

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