Ernesto Ruffini

Ernesto Ruffini (January 19, 1888—June 11, 1967) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Palermo from 1945 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.

Biography

Ernesto Ruffini was born in San Benedetto Po in the Province of Mantua, and studied at the diocesan seminary of Mantua, the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Northern Italy (obtaining his licentiate in theology), and the Angelicum (licentiate in philosophy) and Pontifical Biblical Institute (diploma to teach Biblical Science) in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 10, 1910, and finished his studies in 1912.

Ruffini taught at the Major Roman Seminary (1913-1930), and then the Pontifical Urbaniana University (1917-1929). Raised to the rank of Monsignor in 1925, he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation of Seminaries and Universities on October 28, 1928. Ruffini was made a Protonotary Apostolic on June 15, 1931. In 1930, Ruffini was made Prefect of Studies at the Pontifical Lateran University, of which he was named rector "magnifico" in the following year. Noted for his interest in science, Ruffini founded the Medical Biological Union of St. Luke, examining the relationships between Catholicism and science, in 1944.

On October 11, 1945, he was named Archbishop of Palermo by Pope Pius XII. Ruffini received his episcopal consecration on the following December 8 from Giuseppe Cardinal Pizzardo, with Archbishop Francesco Duca and Bishop Domenico Menna serving as co-consecrators. Ruffini was created Cardinal Priest of "S. Sabina" by Pius XII in the consistory of February 18, 1946. He was the first cardinal-designate to place his wardrobe order to the Gamarelli episcopal tailors, which he did the same morning as the announcement of his elevation to the Sacred College ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,797770-3,00.html The Roads to Rome] January 7, 1946] . He later participated in the 1958 papal conclave, which selected Pope John XXIII. Ruffini was also among the "papabili" at that conclave ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,863974,00.html Papal Possibilities] October 29, 1958] .

During his tenure as Palermo's archbishop, he supported Francisco Franco ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839565,00.html Milestones] June 23, 1967] , but protested against Communism ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,937777,00.html The Third Choice] June 22, 1959] and Danilo Dolci. He also demanded that Salvatore Giuliano cease murdering within Palermo ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,797770-3,00.html The Roads to Rome] January 7, 1946] , and refused to admit that the Mafia was the main problem of Sicily.

An stern opponent of reform ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874481-1,00.html The Council's Prospects] September 14, 1962] , he attended the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), and sat on its Board of Presidency. He was forced to intervene in a heated discussion between Cardinals Alfredo Ottaviani and Augustin Bea in the course of the last preparatory session of the Council. During the discussion on the Council's proposed declaration against anti-Semitism, Ruffini accused the document of being overly kind to the Jews, whom the Cardinal saw as hostile to Christianity ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,939536,00.html A Test of Good Will] October 9, 1964] . He also disapproved of "Gaudium et Spes" ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,876333,00.html The Bravest Schema] October 30, 1964] , "Sacrosanctum Concilium", and "Dignitatis Humanae" ["TIME "Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839565,00.html Milestones] June 23, 1967] .

Ruffini was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1963 papal conclave, which selected Pope Paul VI.

He died from a heart attack in Palermo, at age 79 [Ibid.] . Ruffini is buried in the shrine of "Madonna dei Rimedi".

Miscellaneous

*While still a priest, Ruffini also served as President of the Academy of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
*He collaborated with John XXIII in deciding to convene the Second Vatican Council [The Whole Truth About Fatima. [http://www.catholicvoice.co.uk/fatima4/ch3.htm Vatican Council II and the Fatima Revelations] ] .

References

*cite book|title=Cosa Nostra. Storia della mafia siciliana|publisher=Mondolibri |year=2005

External links

* [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-r.htm#Ruffini Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bruffini.html Catholic-Hierarchy]