Francesco Marco Nicola Monterisi was born in Barletta on 28 May 1934 and ordained a priest on 16 March 1957. With doctorates in theology and canon law from the Lateran, he entered the Holy See's diplomatic service in 1964, serving in Madagascar and Egypt and running the Secretariat of State's Middle East desk. Appointed pro-nuncio to Korea and titular Archbishop of Alba Maritima on 24 December 1982 (consecrated by John Paul II on 6 January 1983), he then became the first nuncio to newly independent Bosnia-Herzegovina in June 1993.
In 1990 he had been recalled to Rome as Delegate for Pontifical Representations — the personnel chief for Vatican diplomats — and in March 1998 became Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops and of the College of Cardinals, in which role he was secretary of the 2005 conclave that elected Benedict XVI. On 3 July 2009 he was appointed Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, serving until November 2012. Benedict XVI created him a cardinal on 20 November 2010, with the deaconry of San Paolo alla Regola; he voted in the 2013 conclave. His motto is Fortitudo mea Dominus — “the Lord is my strength.”
Consequential Quotes
The purpose of all the Church's activity is the salvation of souls. The Curia and other institutions are instruments that must be as flexible as possible in the Pope's and Bishops' hands, to take Christ to the ends of the world.
Major Works & Initiatives
Archpriest of St Paul
Three years guarding the basilica of the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Secretary for Bishops
And secretary of the 2005 conclave.
First nuncio to Bosnia
The Vatican's man in a newborn nation.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.