Cardinal Attilio Nicora, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, Pontifical Legate for the Basilicas of St. Francis and of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, was born on March 16, 1937 in Varese, Archdiocese of Milan, Italy.

He was ordained a priest on June 27, 1964. He holds a degree in jurisprudence, a licentiate in theology and a doctorate in canon law. Cardinal Nicora taught canon law and public ecclesiastical law in the Major Seminary of Milan, where he later became rector.

On April 16, 1977 he was elected titular Bishop of Furnos minor and Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Milan and on May 28, 1977 he was ordained, later becoming the pro-vicar general. He was appointed President of the Commission of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) for Ecclesiastical Institutes and Goods; President of the Episcopal Commission for Charitable Service and of the Italian Caritas.

On June 30, 1992 he was transferred to Verona and continued his collaboration with the Holy See on juridical matters.

On September 18, 1997, he returned to Rome as delegate of the presidency of the CEI he continued to deal with juridical matters. He also represented the CEI at the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community and in 2000 he was nominated vice president.

On October 1, 2002 he was nominated Archbishop and President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, which he resigned from in 2011.

On February 21, 2006 he was nominated Pontifical Legate for the Basilicas of St. Francis and of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of October 21, 2003, of the Deaconry of S. Filippo Neri in Eurosia (St. Philip Neri in Eurosia).

Member of:

• Secretariat of State (second section);
• Congregations: for Bishops; for the Evangelization of Peoples;
• Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura;
• Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts;
• Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State;
• Cardinal Commission for the Supervision of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR).