Vatican City, Jun 17, 2008 / 10:15 am
This morning, Pope Benedict appointed Bishop Salvatore Fisichella, current Auxiliary of Rome and the rector of the city's Pontifical Lateran University, as president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
Bishop Fisichella, who has also been elevated to archbishop, succeeds Bishop Elio Sgreccia who resigned after reaching the age of 75, the mandatory age for resignation.
Born in Codogno in Northern Italy on August 25 1951; Salvatore "Rino" Fisichella was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rome on March 13,1976; was appointed Auxiliary of Rome on July 31, 1998 and was named Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University on January 18, 2002.
He is also a member of two congregations within the Roman Curia: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.