15 Facts About Gianfranco Girotti

Gianfranco Girotti is Regent Emeritus of the Apostolic Penitentiary since his retirement on 26 June 2012.

Gianfranco Girotti served as Regent from 16 February 2002 until 2012.

Gianfranco Girotti had previously served as Under-Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Gianfranco Girotti was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rome on 17 February 1963 at the age of 25.

Gianfranco Girotti later became a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.

Gianfranco Girotti completed his studies in Rome and obtained a baccalaureate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University, a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty "St Bonaventure", a doctorate utroque jure from the Pontifical Lateran University and a lawyer's diploma from the Roman Rota.

Gianfranco Girotti was professor at the Pontifical Urban University, teaching Law on the Institutes of Consecrated Life, and was a judge at the ecclesiastical tribunal of Lazio.

Gianfranco Girotti said that surveys showed 60 per cent of Catholics in Italy no longer went to confession.

Gianfranco Girotti said that priests must take account of "new sins which have appeared on the horizon of humanity as a corollary of the unstoppable process of globalisation".

Gianfranco Girotti explained: "You offend God not only by stealing, blaspheming or coveting your neighbour's wife, but by ruining the environment, carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments, or allowing genetic manipulations which alter DNA or compromise embryos".

In 2010 Bishop Gianfranco Girotti spoke to priests about the challenges and the complex situations that confessors are required to handle.

Gianfranco Girotti reminded them that the church seeks to help "even in situations that are humanly so difficult that they seem to have no solution".

Gianfranco Girotti said confessors must be careful with the psychological states of penitents; if they find themselves with someone with serious problems they should not "try to be a psychologist," but rather seek expert help.

Gianfranco Girotti warned that in the case of repeat offenders, who do not show even a minimal intention to change, absolution must not be granted; but the priest must be very patient, because a conversion is always possible.

On 15 September 2012 Gianfranco Girotti was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for a five-year term.