Paolo Sardi Cleric
Paolo Sardi STL (born 1 September 1934) is an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church. Until 8 November 2014, he served as patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.Sardi was born in Ricaldone, Province of Alessandria. Sardi was ordained a priest on 29 June 1958, after a licentiate in theology he graduated in canon law and jurisprudence at the Università Cattolica Milano. He taught moral theology in Turin until 1976, when he was called to the Vatican to work in the Secretariat of State. In 1992 he was appointed Vice Councillor for General Affairs and on 10 December 1996, Apostolic Nuncio with special responsibilities and Titular Archbishop of Sutrium by John Paul II'>Pope John Paul II. Archbishop Sardi co-ordinates the Vatican office that edits the Pope's texts and addresses. On 6 January 1997, Pope John Paul ordained him an archbishop in Saint Peter's Basilica.On 23 October 2004 he was appointed Vice Camerlengo (chamberlain) of the Holy Roman Church. He was appointed to succeed Pio Laghi, who died in January 2009 as pro-patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Archbishop Sardi has the task of promoting the spiritual interests of the Order and its members and its relations with the Holy See. Cardinal Sardi was succeeded in that post by Cardinal Leo Burke'>Raymond Leo Burke, Cardinal Prefect Emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church's highest court, on Saturday, November 8, 2014.On 20 November 2010, he was created Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana. He lost voting rights in any papal conclave as he has turned 80 years old. On 30 November 2010 Cardinal Sardi was appointed as full patron of the Order of Malta after becoming a cardinal.On 29 December 2010 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, Saints, and the Pontifical Council for the Laity.He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.