19 Facts About Crescenzio Sepe

Crescenzio Sepe served in the Roman Curia as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples from 2001 to 2006.

Crescenzio Sepe attended the Seminary of Aversa, studied philosophy at the Regional Seminary in Salerno and theology in Rome.

Crescenzio Sepe was ordained for the Diocese of Aversa on 12 March 1967.

Crescenzio Sepe earned degrees in theology and canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University and in philosophy from the University of Rome La Sapienza.

Crescenzio Sepe taught theology at the Lateran and Urbanian Pontifical Universities.

Crescenzio Sepe joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See and was posted to Brazil from 1972 to 1975.

Crescenzio Sepe then returned to Rome and worked at the Secretariat of State, first in the Section for International Organizations and then in office for information and documentation.

Crescenzio Sepe was named the Secretariat's Assessor for General Affairs in 1987.

Crescenzio Sepe was President of Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem from 8 November 1997 to July 2001.

Crescenzio Sepe said that the Vatican was facilitating the return of hundreds of priests who had left the active ministry and married in civil ceremonies, but who were now divorced or widowed and were "sincerely sorry" for having strayed from their vocation.

Crescenzio Sepe participated as a cardinal elector in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, where he was one of the cardinals named to the group that handles the ordinary affairs of the Apostolic See until a new pope is chosen, and in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis.

Crescenzio Sepe was the first head of a Roman dicastery in decades to be given a diocesan appointment.

Crescenzio Sepe disputed the idea that his reassignment to Naples from the Roman Curia represented a demotion.

Crescenzio Sepe said that when Benedict asked for his reaction in advance, he agreed because it was how he wanted to end his career.

In June 2010, Crescenzio Sepe was under investigation by Perugia's public prosecutor's office for financial corruption in connection with the renovation and sale of some of the Congregation's properties.

Crescenzio Sepe said that he has "nothing to hide" and he was expected to waive the diplomatic immunity afforded by his Vatican passport and meet investigators.

In March 2018 Crescenzio Sepe forwarded to the Vatican a 1,200-page dossier compiled by Francesco Mangiacapra, a male escort, that purported to identify 40 actively gay Catholic priests.

Crescenzio Sepe said: "those who have erred must pay the price, and be helped to repent for the harm done".

Crescenzio Sepe has been a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.