Italian Episcopal Conference

The Italian Episcopal Conference (Italian: Conferenza Episcopale Italiana) is the episcopal conference of the Italian bishops of the Catholic Church and as such is the official assembly of all the bishops in Italy. The conference was founded in 1971 and carries out certain tasks as well as having authority assigned to setting the liturgical norms for the Mass. Episcopal conferences receive their authority under universal law or particular mandates. Its president as of 2007 is Angelo Bagnasco since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 March 2007.

Italy is the only country where the President of the Episcopal Conference is chosen by appointment, given the Pope's prerogative as Primate of Italy.

List of Presidents of the Italian Episcopal Conference

• Ildefonso Schuster (1952–1953)
• Adeodato Giovanni Piazza (1953–1954)
• Maurilio Fossati (1954–1958)
• Giuseppe Siri (1959–1965)
• A temporary committee of cardinals with collective presidency: Giovanni Colombo, Ermenegildo Florit, Giovanni Urbani (1965–1966)
• Giovanni Urbani (1966–1969)
• Antonio Poma (1969–1979)
• Anastasio Ballestrero (1979–1985)
• Ugo Poletti (1985–1991)
• Camillo Ruini (1991–2007)
• Angelo Bagnasco (2007–present)

Secretaries-General of the Italian Episcopal Conference

The official that deals with the day to day affairs of the Conference is the Secretary-General.

• Camillo Ruini (28 June 1986 – 7 March 1991)
• Dionigi Tettamanzi (14 March 1991 – 20 April 1995)
• Ennio Antonelli (26 May 1995 – 5 April 2001)
• Giuseppe Betori (5 April 2001–8 September 2008)
• Mariano Crociata (25 September 2008 - present)

See also

• Avvenire