Fernando Filoni was born in Manduria, Italy, on 15 April 1946. Ordained a priest on 3 July 1970, he holds doctorates in philosophy and canon law. He entered the Holy See's diplomatic service in 1981, serving in Sri Lanka, Iran and Brazil, and from 1992 in the Philippines with residence in Hong Kong, where the Holy See had opened a study mission to follow the Church in China.
On 17 January 2001 John Paul II named him titular Archbishop of Volturno and Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq and Jordan; he was consecrated by the Pope himself on 19 March 2001. To convey the Church's closeness during the Iraq war he remained at his post in Baghdad until March 2006, when he was transferred to the Philippines. In 2007 he became Substitute of the Secretariat of State, and on 10 May 2011 Benedict XVI appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, confirmed by Pope Francis in 2013. He voted in the conclave of 2013.
Benedict XVI created him a cardinal on 18 February 2012, with the deaconry of Nostra Signora di Coromoto; in 2018 Francis co-opted him into the Order of Cardinal Bishops. On 8 December 2019 Francis appointed him Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Major Works & Initiatives
Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Heads the pontifical order supporting the Christians of the Holy Land.
Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Ran the dicastery responsible for the Church's mission territories worldwide.
Substitute of the Secretariat of State
The Holy See's chief of staff for internal governance under Benedict XVI.
Nuncio in Iraq through the war
Remained in Baghdad throughout the invasion and insurgency rather than abandon the post.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.