H.Em. Card. Carlo Caffarra

H.Em. Card. Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, was born at Samboseto of Busseto, in the province of Parma; he frequented the Episcopal Seminary at Fidenza and was ordained a priest at Samboseto on July 2, 1961, by Mgsr. G. Bosetti.

He continued his studies in Rome where he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University Gregoriana, with a thesis on the finality of matrimony. He received a diploma with a Specialization in Moral Theology at the Pontifical Academy Alfonsiana.

For a few years, he taught Moral Theology at the Seminary of Parma and Fidenza; then fundamental Moral Theology at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy at Milan and at the Department of Religious Science at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart at Milan, under the administration of Rector Lazzati. In the Seventies, he began an in-depth study on the themes of Matrimony, the Family and human procreation. He teaches medical Ethics at the Faculty of Chirurgical Medicine of the University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. In August 1974, he was nominated Member of the International Theological Commission by Paul VI, a position that he held for ten years.

In 1980, John Paul II nominated him an expert at the Synod of Bishops on Matrimony and the Family, and in 1981, conferred upon him the mandate to found and preside the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Matrimony and the Family, where he teaches a course on the Ethics of procreation and seminars on General Ethics and Bioethics.

In 1983, he was Consultor of the Congregation of the Faith for five years; and was also asked to be part of the Commission of studies for genetic engineering, established ad actum at the Board of Health. At the same time, he held courses and lessons in various foreign Universities.

In 1988 in Washington, D.C., he founded the first extra-urban Section of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Matrimony and the Family; which was followed by a Mexican and Spanish Section, where he held regular academic courses. He received, moreover, a Doctorate h.c. in Christian Letters from the Franciscan University at Steubenville (Ohio).

In 1995, he was consecrated Bishop at the Cathedral of Fidenza by His Eminence Cardinal Giacomo Biffi. In that year, he began his pastoral activity in the Archdiocese of Ferrara-Comacchio. In 2003, he was called to lead the Archdiocese of Bologna, substituting Cardinal Giacomo Biffi who reached the age of retirement. He was installed in the Diocese on February 15, 2004. He was made cardinal by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in March 24, 2006.

He is a member of the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples; a Member of the Presidential Committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and of the Pontifical Academy of Life; honorary member of the Real Academia de los Doctores in Madrid. He is also President of the Episcopal Regional Conference and Moderator of the Flaminio Court for cases regarding matrimony.