Ferdinando Baldelli (September 26, 1886 – September 20, 1963) was an Italian Catholic

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

. He was President of the Pontificia Commissione di Assistenza (1944–1959) and President of

Caritas Internationalis Caritas Internationalis (Latin for ) is a confederation of 162 national Catholic relief, development, and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. The name Caritas Internationalis refers to both the ...

(1951–1962).

Biography

A native of

Pergola A pergola is most commonly used as an outdoor garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway, or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support crossbeams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are t ...

, Ferdinando Baldelli was ordained as Catholic priest in 1909. In 1944 he suggested to

Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII (; born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli; 2 March 18769 October 1958) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death on 9 October 1958. He is the most recent p ...

the creation of a Papal Charity. Pascalina Lehnert credits Baldelli with the idea of a papal aid organization, which Pope Pius XII supported enthusiastically until his death. He founded Pontificia Commissione di Assistenza, sometimes called ''Pontificia Opera di Assistenza'', together with Carlo Egger and

Otto Faller Rev. Otto Faller SJ (18 February 1889 – 16 May 1971) was Provincial Superior of the Jesuit order in Germany, educator, teacher and Dean at Stella Matutina in Feldkirch, Austria and Kolleg St. Blasien in Germany, professor of patristic studi ...

. The Pope was personally involved, constantly asking Cardinals and

Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

from the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, and other countries for help. The commissione existed until 1959. During the Holy Year of 1950,

decided to link and internationalize Catholic charity work. Following a suggestion by Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, a study week, with participants from 22 countries, was held in Rome to examine the problems of Christian Caritas work. As a result, the decision was made to set up an international conference of Catholic charities. In December 1951, upon approval of the statutes by the Holy See, the first constitutive General Assembly of Caritas (charity) took place. Ferdinando Baldelli was elected as the first president. Founding members came from organisations in 13 countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. In 1957, the confederation changed its name to Caritas ''Internationalis''.

Pope John XXIII Pope John XXIII (born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli; 25 November 18813 June 1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death on 3 June 1963. He is the most recent pope to take ...

appointed him to be president of the Curia and

titular bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

of Aperlae. October 25, 1959, he was ordained.bishop www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbaldell.html Baldelli died September 20, 1963, in Rome.

Notes

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Baldelli, Ferdinando 1886 births 1963 deaths People from Pergola, Marche Participants in the Second Vatican Council 20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular bishops Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany