12 Facts About Raniero Cantalamessa

Raniero Cantalamessa was born on 22 July 1934 and is an Italian Catholic cardinal and priest in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and a theologian.

Raniero Cantalamessa has served as the Preacher to the Papal Household since 1980, under Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Raniero Cantalamessa was born in Colli del Tronto, Italy, on 22 July 1934.

Raniero Cantalamessa was ordained as a priest in the Franciscan Capuchin order in 1958.

Raniero Cantalamessa holds doctoral degrees in theology and classical literature.

Raniero Cantalamessa formerly served as a professor of ancient Christian history and the director of the Department of Religious Sciences at the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, resigning in 1979.

Raniero Cantalamessa was appointed the Preacher to the Papal Household by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and has been confirmed in this position by Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.

Raniero Cantalamessa, a frequent speaker, is a member of the Catholic Delegation for the Dialogue with the Pentecostal Churches.

Aged more than 80 at the time of his elevation to the cardinalate, Raniero Cantalamessa is not a cardinal elector.

In 2010, Raniero Cantalamessa caused controversy with his sermon during Good Friday prayers in St Peter's Basilica.

Raniero Cantalamessa responded that he was reading directly from a letter received earlier in the week from a Jewish friend; the unidentified letter writer was expressing his contempt for what he considered a blatant media assault on the Pope.

Raniero Cantalamessa is the author of several books on theological and spiritual topics.