(ANS – Roma) – Among the new Cardinals created today by Benedict XVI there is also a Salesian: Archbishop Raffaele Farina, Prefect of the Apostolic Vatican Library, titular archbishop of Oderzo.

Archbishop Farina was born at Buonalbergo in the Province of Benevento (Italy) on 24 September 1933. He was professed as a Salesian on  25 September 1949 after making his novitiate at Portici Bellavista; he took his Perpetual Vows in 1954. He was ordained priest on 1 July 1958 after completing his studies with a Licence in Theology at the Theological Faculty of the Salesian Pontifical Ateneum in Turin.

In 1965 he obtained a doctorate in Ecclesiastical Histroy at the Gregorian Pontifical University. After three years of further specialist studies on a German "Humboldt"  Foundation Scholarship at Freiburg and Bonn, he began teaching as professor of ancient church history and methodology in the Faculty of Theology in the Salesian Pontifical University. Between 1972 and 1974 he was Dean of the same Faculty and then Rector of the University for twelve years (1977-1983; 1992-1997).

In 1978 he was appointed by the Rector Major of the time Fr Egidio Viganò as Moderator of the 21 General Chapter. Between 1978 and 1988 he was Secretary of the Pontifical Historical Committee and for 6 years Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture. On 25 May 1997 he was appointed Prefect of the Apostolic Vatican Library.

On 15 November 2006 Benedict XVI made him a Bishop with the titular see of Oderzo; he was ordained on 27 December 2006 by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State to the Holy Father.
On 25 June this year Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archivist and Librarian of the  Holy Roman Church and at the same time making him an Archbishop.

Published 17/10/2007