13 Facts About Paolo Sardi

Paolo Sardi was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church who spent his career in the Roman Curia.

Paolo Sardi was patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 2009 to 2014.

Paolo Sardi studied at the local seminary of the Diocese of Acqui and then in Turin and Rome, where he earned a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1958.

Paolo Sardi graduated in canon law from the Gregorian in 1963 and completed a degree in jurisprudence at the Universita Cattolica Milano in 1968.

Paolo Sardi taught moral theology in Turin until 1976, when he began his career in the Roman Curia, working in the Secretariat of State.

On 10 December 1996 Paolo Sardi was given the title Apostolic Nuncio with special responsibilities and appointed Titular Archbishop of Sutrium by Pope John Paul II.

Paolo Sardi coordinated the Vatican office that writes and edits the pope's texts and addresses.

Paolo Sardi would serve as the speechwriter for John Paul II as well.

Paolo Sardi held that post until Santos Abril y Castello was named to replace him on 22 January 2011.

Paolo Sardi was appointed Pro-Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta on 6 June 2009.

Paolo Sardi was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.

In 2009 Paolo Sardi had complained to Pope Benedict about Vatican mismanagement when Bertone as Secretary of State was the Curia's most powerful figure, writing to Benedict that "for some time in various parts of the church, including among people extremely faithful to it, critical voices have been raised about the lack of coordination and confusion which reigns at its center".

Paolo Sardi died in Rome's Gemelli University Hospital after a brief illness on 13 July 2019 at the age of 84.