Silvano Piovanelli

Silvano Piovanelli (21 February 1924 – 9 July 2016) was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Florence from 1983 to 2001, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1985.

His Eminence Silvano Piovanelli
Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Florence
See	Florence (emeritus)
Installed	18 March 1983
Term ended	21 March 2001
Predecessor	Giovanni Benelli
Successor	Ennio Antonelli
Other posts	Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria delle Grazie a Via Trionfale (1985–2016)
Orders
Ordination	13 July 1947 by Elia Dalla Costa
Consecration	24 June 1982 by Giovanni Benelli
Created cardinal	25 May 1985
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name	Silvano Piovanelli
Born	21 February 1924 Borgo San Lorenzo, Kingdom of Italy
Died	9 July 2016 (aged 92) Florence, Italy
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of Florence (1982–1983)
Alma mater	University of Florence
Motto	In verbo Tuo
Signature

Biography

Silvano Piovanelli was born in Borgo San Lorenzo, in the province of Florence, on 21 February 1924.[1] He studied at the seminary of Florence from 1935 to 1947, and was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa on 13 July 1947.[2] He then served as a curate in the industrial town of Rifredi until October 1948, when he became vice-rector of minor seminary of Florence.[3] He resumed his pastoral ministry in 1961 as a parish priest in Castelfiorentino, and was raised to the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness on 26 October 1966.[1] From 1979 to 1982, he was vicar general of the Archdiocese of Florence.[3]

On 28 May 1982, Piovanelli was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Florence and Titular Bishop of Tubunae in Mauretania by Pope John Paul II.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following 24 June from Cardinal Giovanni Benelli, with Bishops Antonio Bagnoli and Giovanni Bianchi serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral-Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore.[2] He selected as his episcopal motto: "In Verbo Tuo".[4] Following the unexpected death of Cardinal Benelli in October 1982, Piovanelli was promoted to Archbishop of Florence on 18 March 1983.[2] John Paul II created him Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria delle Grazie a Via Trionfale in the consistory of 25 May 1985.[1]

After an 18-year-long tenure, he retired as Archbishop on 21 March 2001.[2] He lost the right to participate in a papal conclave upon reaching the age of 80 on 21 February 2004.[1]

Piovanelli died in his sleep on the morning of 9 July 2016 at the age of 92, after three months hospitalisation in a Florence retirement home for priests.[5] Days before his death, he was telephoned by Pope Francis on the pontiff's visit to the city.[6] His funeral Mass was celebrated in the late afternoon of 12 July 2016 by cardinal Giuseppe Betori and his remains were buried in Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral.

References

1. Miranda, Salvador. "PIOVANELLI, Silvano". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church.
2. "Silvano Cardinal Piovanelli". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
3. "PIOVANELLI Card. Silvano". Holy See.
4. "Piovanelli Silvano". CARDINALI E LORO TITOLI ODIERNI.
5. http://www.lanazione.it/firenze/silvano-piovanelli-silvano-cardinale-1.2330446
6. Poli, Simona (9 July 2016). "Firenze, è morto il cardinale Silvano Piovanelli. Il cordoglio del Papa" [Florence, Cardinal Silvano Piovanelli dies. Condolences from the Pope]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 9 July 2016.