Agostino Vallini

Agostino Vallini (born April 17, 1940) is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Vicar General of Rome, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2006.
==Biography==
Agostino Vallini was born in Poli, near Rome, but moved with his family to Barra, near Naples, as a child. He studied at the Major Archiepiscopal Seminary of Naples and the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, on the S. Tommaso d'Aquino campus, where he obtained his licentiate in theology. Vallini also attended the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, earning his doctorate in canon and civil law with a dissertation on the new Code of Canon Law.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Vittorio Longo on July 19, 1964. He then taught canon law at his alma mater, the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy. From 1971 to 1978 he taught ecclesiastical law at the Pontifical Lateran University, while also serving as adviser for the Italian Catholic University Federation, the movement Seguimi, and the Union of Major Religious Superiors of Italy as well. He later became Rector of the Major Archiepiscopal Seminary of Naples and Regional Counselor of Catholic Action. On his return to Naples in 1978 he became rector of the major seminary until 1987, when he took up the post of dean of the S. Tommaso d'Aquino campus, where he had continued to teach.
On March 23, 1989, Vallini was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Naples and Titular Bishop of Tortibulum by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 13 from Cardinal Michele Giordano, with Archbishops Luigi Diligenza and Antonio Ambrosanio serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of Naples. Vallini was named Diocesan Bishop of Albano on November 13, 1999. On May 27, 2004, he was appointed Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, more commonly known as the Apostolic Signatura, resigning from the See of Albano. As Prefect of the Signatura, he served as the highest judicial authority in the Church, only below the Pope himself.
Upon the death of John Paul II on April 2, 2005, Vallini and all major Vatican officials, in accord with custom, automatically lost their positions during the sede vacante. He was later confirmed as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura by Pope Benedict XVI on the following April 21. Pope Benedict later created him Cardinal Deacon of S. Pier Damiani ai Monti di S. Paolo in the consistory of March 24, 2006.
Vallini was appointed Vicar General of Rome on June 27, 2008, succeeding Camillo Ruini. As Vicar General, he takes care of the diocese of Rome, as well as being Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University. On February 24, 2009, he was promoted to the order of cardinal priests, with his deaconry being raised pro hac vice to title.http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/23466.php?index=23466&po_date=24.02.2009&lang=en
==Views==
===AIDS and contraception===
Distributing condoms in schools in the context of combating AIDS trivializes sexuality and education and must be fought by concerned parents, according to Cardinal Vallini. In an official statement, he responded to a decision by the civil authorities of the province of Rome to allow the distribution of condoms from vending machines in high schools. (see religion and AIDS) Condom Vending Machines in Rome High Schools “Trivializes” Education: Rome Cardinal
==External links==
* Agostino Cardinal Vallini
* biography in Italian
==References==
Category:1940 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from the Province of Rome
Category:Italian cardinals
Category:Cardinal Vicars
Category:Members of the Apostolic Signatura
Category:Prefects of the Apostolic Signatura
Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI
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ru:Валлини, Агостино