1. Justin Francis Rigali was born on April 19,1935 and is an American prelate of the Catholic Church.
36 Facts About Justin Rigali
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The youngest of seven children, Justin Rigali was born on April 19,1935, in Los Angeles, California, to Henry Alphonsus and Frances Irene Rigali.
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Justin Rigali studied at one of the Los Angeles College campuses, at Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary in San Fernando, California, and at St John's Seminary in Camarillo, California.
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Justin Rigali was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre on April 25,1961.
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In 1961, Justin Rigali earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC In October 1961, he entered the graduate division of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, obtaining a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1964.
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Justin Rigali returned to California in the summer of 1964 and was briefly assigned as an associate pastor at a parish in Pomona.
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Justin Rigali began his service in the English section of the Secretariat of State on November 25,1964.
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On February 11,1970, Justin Rigali became director of the English section of the Secretariat of State.
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Justin Rigali served as the English translator for Pope Paul VI, accompanying him on several international trips.
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Justin Rigali accompanied Pope John Paul II on several international trips, including his 1979 and 1987 visits to the United States.
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On June 8,1985, Justin Rigali was appointed president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy and titular archbishop of Volsinium by John Paul II.
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Justin Rigali received his episcopal consecration on September 14,1985, from John Paul II, with Cardinals Eduardo Somalo and Achille Silvestrini as co-consecrators, at Albano Cathedral in Lazio, Italy.
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Justin Rigali selected as his episcopal motto: Verbum Caro Factum Est, meaning, "The Word Became Flesh".
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Justin Rigali was named a member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre on October 13,1986.
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From 1985 to 1990, Justin Rigali held several positions within the Roman Curia:.
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Justin Rigali was installed in St Louis, Missouri, by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin on March 15,1994.
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Justin Rigali became a member of the Knights of Columbus on November 7,1994.
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However, Justin Rigali opposed collective bargaining by teachers, and opposed any efforts they made to unionize.
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Justin Rigali was widely credited as an able administrator and effective fundraiser, although observers said that his popularity dimmed as his tenure continued.
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In January 1999, Justin Rigali hosted the visit of John Paul II to St Louis.
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Justin Rigali was appointed the eighth archbishop of Philadelphia by John Paul II on July 15,2003.
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Justin Rigali was installed as archbishop on October 7,2003.
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Justin Rigali was created as cardinal-priest of Santa Prisca in Rome during the consistory of October 21,2003.
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Justin Rigali was the only American cardinal to serve as a concelebrant at the 2005 funeral Mass for John Paul II.
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Justin Rigali was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave, which selected Pope Benedict XVI.
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In September 2007, Justin Rigali was named by Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Congregation for Bishops.
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On June 16,2011, Benedict XVI appointed Justin Rigali to serve as his special envoy to the celebrations at Prachatice in the Czech Republic for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bishop John Neumann.
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Justin Rigali then retired in residence at the Diocese of Knoxville.
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Justin Rigali was invited there by Bishop Richard Stika, with whom he shares living quarters.
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Justin Rigali participated in the 2013 conclave that selected Pope Francis.
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Justin Rigali remained eligible to vote in conclaves until he reached 80 on April 19,2015.
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In December 2013, Justin Rigali retired from the Congregation for Bishops.
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In January 2023, Justin Rigali was hospitalized in Knoxville, Tennessee, for a few days for an undisclosed medical condition.
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In June 2006, Rigali traveled to the White House along with Archbishop John J Myers and Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley to attend a press conference by US President George W Bush.
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Justin Rigali praised the bill for offering "an authentic common ground" that will provide many kinds of life-affirming support for pregnant women and their unborn children.
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Justin Rigali has run a weekly series of Lenten discourses on YouTube.