Cardinal Francesco Marchisano, President of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See (U.L.S.A.), Archpriest emeritus of the Patriarchal Vatican Basilica, Vicar General emeritus of His Holiness for Vatican City State, President emeritus of the Fabric of St Peter, President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology and President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, was born on June 25, 1929 in Racconigi, Italy. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1952 and holds a licentiate in Sacred Scripture and a degree in theology.
Cardinal Marchisano has served in the Roman Curia as Undersecretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education (1969-1988).
On October 6, 1988 he was appointed titular Bishop of Populonia and was consecrated on January 6, 1989. He was also appointed Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the conservation of the artistic and historical patrimony of the Church (now known as Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church), and was raised to the dignity of Archbishop (July 9, 1994).
On 4 September 1991 he was nominated President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology and on May 3, 1993 he was nominated President of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church. He has also served as member of Roman Pontifical Academy of Archaeology and as President of the Artistic-Cultural Commission of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
On April 24, 2002 he was nominated Archpriest of the Patriarchal Vatican Basilica, Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City State and President of the Fabric of St Peter.
On October 13, 2003, President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.
On August 28, 2004, President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology.
On February 5, 2005, he was nominated President of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See (U.L.S.A.) and, on the same date. Vicar General emeritus of His Holiness for Vatican City State, President emeritus of the Fabric of St. Peter.
On October 31, 2006, Archpriest emeritus of the Patriarchal Vatican Basilica.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of October 21, 2003, of the Deaconry of S. Lucia del Gonfalone (St. Lucy of Gonfalone).
Member of:
- Congregation for Catholic Education;
- Pontifical Councils: for Culture; for Promoting Christian Unity;
- Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.
