10 Facts About Giovanni Coppa

Giovanni Coppa was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

Giovanni Coppa served as a diplomat of the Holy See, and was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2007.

Giovanni Coppa was ordained to the priesthood on 2 January 1949, and then served as a diocesan delegate for the aspirants of Catholic Action.

Giovanni Coppa was named an honorary canon of the chapter of St Peter's Basilica in 1965, and assessor of the Secretariat of State on 19 November 1975.

Giovanni Coppa was Vice-Chaplain of the Palatine Guard of Honor and responsible of the Conference of Saint Vincent of Paul.

Giovanni Coppa wrote several works on Saint Ambrose, the Gospels, and the Fathers of the Church, and contributed to L'Osservatore Romano as well.

On 1 December 1979, Giovanni Coppa was appointed delegate for the Secretariat of State's pontifical representations and titular archbishop of Serta.

Giovanni Coppa received his episcopal consecration in Saint Peter's Basilica on 6 January 1980 from Pope John Paul II with Archbishop Eduardo Martinez Somalo and Bishop Ferdinando Maggioni serving as co-consecrators.

Giovanni Coppa was named Apostolic Nuncio to Czechoslovakia on 30 June 1990, and then to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia on 1 January 1993.

Giovanni Coppa retired from his post in Slovakia on 2 March 1994 and from the Czech Republic on 19 May 2001.