Arciconfraternita dei Bolognesi in Rome
In memoriam
Cardinal Giacomo Biffi
Milan, 1928 – Bologna, 2015
Cardinal Giacomo Biffi was born in Milan on June 13, 1928, and passed away in Bologna on July 11, 2015. He was ordained a priest on December 23, 1950. After earning a degree in theology, he served as a professor in the seminaries of Milan. He was then parish priest in Legnano from 1960 to 1969, and in the parish of Sant’Andrea in Milan from 1969 to 1975.
Appointed titular bishop of Fidenae, he served as auxiliary bishop to the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan from December 7, 1975. On April 19, 1984, he was appointed Archbishop of Bologna by Pope John Paul II, and he took canonical possession of the see on June 1 of the same year.
He was created and proclaimed cardinal by the same Pontiff on May 25, 1985, and was assigned the titular church of Santi Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio dei Bolognesi in Rome, which he officially took possession of on October 26 of that year. On that occasion, he was welcomed by His Excellency Most Reverend Monsignor Achille Silvestrini, Governor of the Church, and by the rector Monsignor Mario Rizzi, in the presence of various ecclesiastical and civil authorities.
He resigned from the archbishopric of Bologna on December 16, 2003, having reached the age limit, but chose to remain in Bologna until his death, following a painful illness.
Cardinal Archbishop Giacomo Biffi held a deep affection for the Arciconfraternita dei Bolognesi, whom he met regularly and gladly in his titular church during his visits to Rome.
He liked to consider the Bolognese community in Rome as “the most distant parishioners of his diocese,” and they, in turn, returned his affection — appreciating both his measured and candid words as a brilliant preacher during liturgical celebrations, and his witty and ironic remarks as a gracious table companion during convivial gatherings.
Cardinal Achille Silvestrini
Brisighella (RA), 1923 – Rome, 2019
Cardinal Achille Silvestrini was born in Brisighella (RA) on the 25th of October, 1923 and died in Rome on the 29th of August, 2019. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Faenza on the 13th of July, 1946. He graduated in Classics at the University of Bologna and in Utroque iure at the Pontifical Lateran University as a student of the Pontifical Seminary for Legal Studies of Sant’Apollinare. A student of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy (1952-1953), on 1st of December, 1953 he entered the diplomatic service in the Section for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Secretariat of State.
From 1958 to 1969, he was among the collaborators of the Secretaries of State Domenico Tardini and Amleto G. Cicognani. In 1972, after returning to the Council for Public Affairs of the Church, he was designated deputy delegate to the Helsinki consultations in preparation for the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, subsequently participating in all phases of the Conference in Helsinki and Geneva. In 1977 he was deputy head of delegation at the Belgrade Meeting, for the verification and development of the Helsinki final act.
He led the Holy See delegations to the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy (Geneva, 1971) and to the Conference on the Implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Geneva, 1975). In July 1973, he was appointed Under-Secretary of the Council for Public Affairs of the Church.
On the 4th of May, 1979, he was appointed Secretary of the Council for Public Affairs of the Church and promoted to the Episcopate with the title Archbishop of Novalicina. Since 1979, in his new responsibility, he has led the Delegation of the Holy See for the Revision of the Lateran Concordat and conducted the negotiations with the Italian authorities until the signing of the Agreement of the 18th of February, 1984. During those years, he carried out countless diplomatic missions.
By St. John Paul II, the Cardinal of the Title of San Benedetto fuori Porta San Paolo was created and published in the Consistory of the 28th of June, 1988 (Deaconry elevated pro hac vice to Presbyteral Title.)
From the 1st of July, 1988 to the 24th of May, 1991 he was Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura Apostolica.
From the 24th of May, 1991 to the 25th of November, 2000 he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and from the 3rd of April, 1993, as Prefect of that Congregation, he was also Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Oriental Institute.
He was President delegate to the Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops (1995.)
In his priestly ministry he always carried out action among young people at “Villa Nazareth”, an institution created in 1945 by Cardinal Tardini. Since 1969, he has animated a “Community” created by a group of former graduate students, professionals, and friends of Villa Nazareth. From this, the “Domenico Tardini Community” Foundation was born in 1986, which took responsibility for its training and management activities from the Holy Family of Nazareth Foundation. Cardinal Silvestrini was President of both Foundations.
Cardinal Silvestrini has been close to the Arciconfraternita dei Bolognesi since the 1980s, of which he was appointed Governor in 1991, an office he held until his death. As long as his health and age allowed it, he followed the life of his confreres very closely, celebrating Mass at their meetings and intervening with his amiability and authority when circumstances required it.
Antonio Santangelo
Varsi (PR), 1938 – Rome, 2023
Antonio Santangelo was born in Varsi (PR) on the 22nd of March, 1929 and died in Rome on the 9th of January, 2023. During his veterinary studies, in Bologna, he engaged in the charitable activities of the San Vincenzo de Paoli Society and in the training activities of Azione Cattolica. In Bologna he also formed lasting friendships with priests, such as Don Paolino Serrazanetti, university professor and priest known for his charity towards the poor, and Don Luigi Bettazzi, of very advanced ideas in the social sphere, later auxiliary bishop of Bologna with Cardinal Lercaro, and afterwards bishop of Ivrea.
Following the flood of 1951, while assisting the flood victims in the Ferrara area with Fuci, he met Luisa Orlandi (from Bologna), who he married on the 11th of February, 1960 and with whom he had a son, Giovanni (born on the 31st of January, 1969.)
In 1959, he was called to Rome as director of AVE (Anonima Veritas Editrice), which in that very year became the sole publisher of Azione Cattolica, very committed to the theological, social and cultural updating of the Church following the Vatican Council II.
Since the 1980s, his work has been linked to the resumption of the Archconfraternity’s activity after a period of weakening of the association’s life. Together with other volunteers, Santangelo gave new growth to the association through the resumption of the celebration of the Beata Vergine di San Luca feast and the elaboration of a new Statute, approved on the 13th of July, 1981 by the Vicariate of Rome, which underlines the lay identity of the association and as its objectives liturgical worship, religious formation, apostolate, ecumenism, and evangelization activities.
Taking up Prof. Herry Manelli’ legacy, in succeeding him as prior in October 1991, he was able to reconstitute the Archconfraternity also numerically, promoting initiatives of a religious, cultural, and recreational nature, always in agreement with the Rectors Mons. Paolo Rabitti, Mons. Rino Magnani, and Mons. Francesco Cavina. Unforgettable remain the final celebrations of the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress of Bologna on the 27th and 28th of September, 1997, on the occasion of which the Archconfraternity chose a new banner according to the reconstructive hypothesis of its sister Dr. Vittorina Novara: three red mountains surmounted by a cross. On the occasion of the Jubilee of 2000, a bronze medallion was minted based on the cast of Stefania Guidi, from which the bronze medals that the members wear as a badge on official occasions were taken.
During his priory, the real estate assets of the Archconfraternity received particular attention, with the restoration of the hall and various parts of the church of Saints John the Evangelist and Petronius in view of the Jubilee of 2000.
After his retirement (2005), Santangelo always remained with his heart tied to the Archconfraternity, taking an interest in his activities and continuing to cultivate relationships with many brothers.
Ing. Antonio Manzacca
Canna (Cs), 1949 – Rome, 2019
Antonio Manzacca was born on January 25, 1949, in Canna (province of Cosenza), a small village on the border between Basilicata and Calabria. He stayed there only a few months, as his parents soon moved to Taranto, in the region of Apulia. They always recalled him as a model student, always ready to help the family.
At the age of 18, after earning his high school diploma, he enrolled at the University of Pisa, attending the newly established Faculty of Electronic Engineering. In March 1975, he graduated with honors and later obtained a specialization diploma from the Advanced School of Telecommunications.
He spent most of his professional life working for Telecom Italia, where he held management positions.
On June 19, he married Cosimina (Mina) Fella, with whom he had two sons: Simone and Gianluca. He was a present, loving, yet firm father: after long days filled with managerial responsibilities at the office, he would come home and devote time to his children, correcting and patiently explaining their math homework.
The year 1999 marked a dramatic turning point in his life: he lost his second son, Simone, at the age of 14. It was a devastating blow. Nevertheless, his faith, determination, and inner strength led him to encourage his other son, Gianluca, reminding him that life must go on — and must be lived — because it is a gift. His example brought unity and resilience to the entire family.
He later became the proud grandfather of three beautiful grandchildren, to whom he gave his all: his energy, his cheerfulness, and his immense affection. Vittorio and Gaia, who still remember him often, consider him a true role model. The youngest, little Francesco, unfortunately never had the chance to meet him.
He passed away on October 9, 2019.
In the final years of his life, he became a member of the Arciconfraternita, where he served as Camerlengo from June 2018 until his passing.
Dott. Gianfranco Moschetti
Bologna, 1938 – Rome, 2023
Gianfranco Moschetti was born in Bologna in 1938 to a family with roots in Palazzuolo sul Senio. After obtaining a degree in Law in Bologna and completing his military service, he was hired at the Italian Exchange Office (Banca d’Italia), Rome branch, in 1964. First sent to New York to the local representation of the UIC in 1965 and subsequently to Paris, he returned to Rome in 1973 as an official of the Foreign Relations Service. Responsible for the Study Unit for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UIC, he then held, before retiring, the role of Head of the General Secretariat Service and Secretary of the UIC Council.
Since June 1999, he has been Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.
From 1997 to 2005 he was President of the Famiglia Romagnola – Association of people from Romagna in Rome.
Having entered the Archconfraternity, he was its Prior from 2013 to 2018. During his priorship, a major decision was taken to renovate the headquarters and rectory, where the nuns live, at no. 61 in Via del Mascherone, and to waterproof the church roof. He signed the Preface of the volume released in 2017 on the occasion of the end of the works, which took stock of the historical and historical-artistic knowledge of our Archconfraternity.
