Mario Zenari
| His Eminence Mario Zenari | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to Syria | |
| Zenari in 2022.
Zenari in 2022.
| |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 30 December 2008 |
| Retired | 2 February 2026 |
| Predecessor | Giovanni Battista Morandini |
| Successor | Luigi Roberto Cona |
| Other post | Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri |
| Previous posts | Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka (2004–08) Apostolic Nuncio to Côte d'Ivoire, Niger and Burkina Faso (1999–2004) Permanent Observer to the Office of the U.N. and Specialized Institutions in Vienna, Permanent Observer to the U.N.Industrial Development Organization (1994–99), Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (1994–99) Titular Archbishop of Iulium Carnicum (1999–2016) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 5 July 1970 by Giuseppe Carraro |
| Consecration | 25 September 1999 by Angelo Sodano |
| Created cardinal | 19 November 2016 by Pope Francis |
| Rank | Cardinal Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mario Zenari 5 January 1946 Rosegaferro, Verona, Italy |
| Motto | Levate Oculos Vestros (Lift up your eyes) |
Mario Zenari (born 5 January 1946) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been a cardinal since 2016. He has served his entire ecclesiastical career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, holding senior positions beginning in 1999. He was nuncio to Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2008 and to Syria from 2008 to 2026.
Life
Mario Zenari was born in 1946 in Rosegaferro. He was ordained a priest on 5 July 1970 in Verona from Bishop Giuseppe Carraro.[1] To prepare for a diplomatic career he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1976.[2]
Diplomatic career
On 7 February 1994, Pope John Paul II appointed him to several diplomatic positions as papal representative to non-governmental organizations in Vienna.[3] And on 15 June he was given the title monsignor as a Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.[4]
He was named Titular Archbishop of Iulium Carnicum and apostolic nuncio to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Côte d'Ivoire on 12 July 1999.[5] He received his episcopal consecration on 25 September 1999 from Cardinal Angelo Sodano.[6]
On 10 May 2004, he was named the nuncio to Sri Lanka.[7] On 30 December 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him nuncio to Syria[8] where he was stationed during the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011.
Pope Francis on 9 October 2016 announced that he would make Zenari a cardinal in the November consistory, citing his work for the "beloved and martyred Syria".[9] He was made a Cardinal Deacon and assigned to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri.[10] Francis made him a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on 23 December 2017.[11]
Zenari participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.[12] He later bestowed the pallium on Pope Leo at his inaugural Mass.[13]
On 2 February 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation as nuncio to Syria.[14]
See also
References
- Back to citation "ZENARI Card. Mario". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- Back to citation "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- Back to citation Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF) (in Italian). Vol. LXXXVI. 1994. p. 452. “Rappresentante Permanente della Santa Sede presso l'Agenzia Internazionale dell'Energia Atomica, Osservatore Permanente della Santa Sede presso l'Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per lo Sviluppo Industriale e presso l'Ufficio delle Nazioni Unite e Capo della Delegazione della Santa Sede presso le Istituzioni della Conferenza sulla Sicurezza e Cooperazione in Europa a Vienna”
- Back to citation Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXXVI. 1994. p. 1014.
- Back to citation Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXXXI. 1999. p. 920.
- Back to citation "Mario Cardinal Zenari [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- Back to citation "Rinunce e Nomine, 10.05.2004" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 10 May 2004. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- Back to citation "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.12.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- Back to citation "Annuncio di Concistoro il 19 novembre per la creazione di nuovi Cardianali" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- Back to citation "Titular churches and diaconates of the new cardinals, 19.11.2016" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 23.12.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- Back to citation "Cardinal Electors". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 6 May 2025. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- Back to citation "Pope Leo begins papacy calling for 'united church' in a wounded world". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 02.02.2026". Retrieved February 2, 2026.
External links
- "Zenari Card. Mario". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- "Msgr. Zenari, Cardinal in Damascus: Amid war and violence, Pope points to peace through diplomacy". Asia News. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- Catholic Hierarchy