Loris Francesco Capovilla

Who is Loris Francesco Capovilla?

Loris Francesco Capovilla is an Italian Roman Catholic prelate. At age 98, he is one of the oldest Roman Catholic bishops.

Capovilla was born in Pontelongo, Italy in October 1915 and on 23 May 1940 was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Venice. He formed a close friendship with Cardinal Roncalli when the Cardinal was Patriarch of Venice. He claims, however, to have never called himself Roncalli's friend, but rather saw the older Italian as his bishop, his father, and his patriarch. He remained at Roncalli's side as Papal Secretary after his election to the Papacy and until the Pope's death.

Capovilla was appointed bishop to the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto on 26 June 1967 and consecrated on 16 July 1967. On 23 September 1971, he was appointed prelate to the Loreto Prelature and the Titular archbishop of Mesembria. His resignation from his position in Loreto was accepted on 10 December 1988. On 12 January 2014 Pope Francis announced that Capovilla would be elevated to the College of Cardinals on 22 February 2014. Capovilla said it was a "sign of attention to all those thousands of priests around the world who have spent their lives in silence, in poverty, in obedience, happy to serve God and our humble people, who need, as Pope Francis continually says, tenderness, friendship, respect and love."