Fernando Vérgez Alzaga

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vérgez and the second or maternal family name is Alzaga.
His Eminence

Fernando Vérgez Alzaga

L.C.
President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State
President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State
Vérgez in 2024
ChurchCatholic Church
Appointed8 September 2021
Installed1 October 2021
PredecessorGiuseppe Bertello
Other post(s)Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria della Mercede e Sant'Adriano a Villa Albani (2022–)
Previous post(s)Director of the Internet Office of the Holy See (2004–08)
Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems of the Vatican City State (2008–21)
Secretary General of the Governorate for the Vatican City State (2013–21)
Titular Bishop of Villamagna in Proconsulari (2013–21)
Titular Archbishop of Villamanga in Proconsulari (2021–22)
Orders
Ordination26 November 1969
by Ildebrando Antoniutti
Consecration15 November 2013
by Pope Francis
Created cardinal27 August 2022
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Born
Fernando Vérgez Alzaga

(1945-03-01) 1 March 1945 (age 79)
Salamanca, Francoist Spain
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
MottoChristus in vobis spes gloriae
Coat of arms
Styles of
Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal

Fernando Vérgez Alzaga L.C. (born 1 March 1945) is a Spanish and Vatican prelate of the Catholic Church who has been President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State since 1 October 2021. He was Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State from 2013 to 2021 and before that director of the Vatican City State Telecommunications Directorate.

He has worked in the Roman Curia since 1972. He was made a bishop in 2013 and given the personal title of archbishop in 2021.

Pope Francis made him a cardinal 27 August 2022. He is the first member of the Legion of Christ to become a cardinal.[1] He is a member of the Council of Cardinals.

Life

Vérgez was born in Salamanca on 1 March 1945. On 25 December 1965 he made a profession of faith with the clerical congregation of the Legion of Christ, and on 26 November 1969 was ordained as a priest by Cardinal Ildebrando Antoniutti. Vérgez studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, earning degrees in philosophy and theology, and then a diploma as an archivist from the Vatican Secret Archives.[2]

In 1972 he entered the service of the Roman Curia as an assistant in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. In April 1984 he moved to the Pontifical Council for the Laity. He was appointed head of the ordinary section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and in June 2004 became head of the Internet Office of the Holy See. On 1 February 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Vérgez as Telecommunications Director of the Vatican City, with the Poste Vaticane.[3] On 30 August 2013, Pope Francis promoted him to be Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, succeeding Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca.[2]

On 15 October 2013 Pope Francis named Vérgez titular bishop of Villamagna in Proconsulari,[4] and on 15 November, in St Peter's Basilica, he was consecrated as a bishop by the pope, assisted by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello and Bishop Brian Farrell.[5]

On 5 October 2020, Pope Francis appointed him to the five-member commission for reserved matters, a financial oversight board responsible for monitoring contracts that fall outside normal procedures and which for security reasons are not made public.[6]

On 8 September 2021, Pope Francis appointed him to succeed Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, effective 1 October 2021. He was also given the personal title of archbishop.[7]

On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a cardinal deacon,[8] assigning him the deaconry Santa Maria della Mercede e Sant'Adriano a Villa Albani.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wooden, Cindy (1 June 2022). "Cardinal days of August: Pope's pick for cardinals wasn't the only surprise". Catholic Spirit. Catholic News Service. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "NOMINA DEL SEGRETARIO GENERALE DEL GOVERNATORATO DELLO STATO DELLA CITTÀ DEL VATICANO"]" (Press release) (in Italian). 30 August 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. ^ "NOMINA DEL DIRETTORE DELLA DIREZIONE DELLE TELECOMUNICAZIONI DELLO STATO DELLA CITTÀ DEL VATICANO" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  4. ^ "ELEVAZIONE ALLA DIGNITÀ EPISCOPALE DEL SEGRETARIO GENERALE DEL GOVERNATORATO DELLO STATO DELLA CITTÀ DEL VATICANO" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Episcopal Ordination of FR. FERNANDO VÉRGEZ ALZAGA, L.C." Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via L'Osservatore Romano.
  6. ^ Brockhaus, Hannah (5 October 2020). "Pope Francis fills committee to monitor internal Vatican financial decisions". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 08.09.2021" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  8. ^ Arocho Esteves, Junno (27 August 2022). "Pope Creates 20 New Cardinals, Including San Diego Bishop". The Tablet. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali" [Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals]. The Holy See (in Italian). Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by

{{s-ttltitle=Secretary-General of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State|years=30 August 2013 – 30 September 2021}}

Vacant
Preceded by President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State
President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State
1 October 2021–present 		Incumbent