Cardinal Camillo Ruini is a retired former Vicar of Rome who played a significant role in shaping both ecclesiastical and political landscapes in Italy and fought to maintain the Church’s influence and relevance in an increasingly secular society.

Born on February 19, 1931, in Sassuolo, province of Modena, diocese of Reggio Emilia, he studied philosophy and theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University. As a student of the Almo Collegio Capranica, he obtained a licentiate in philosophy and theology.

He was ordained priest on December 8, 1954. In 1957 he returned to Reggio Emilia and taught philosophy at the diocesan seminary until 1968. From 1968 until 1986 he taught dogmatic theology at the ‘Studio Teologico Interdiocesano di Modena-Reggio-Emilia-Carpi-Guastalla’, where he was also headmaster from 1968 to 1977. From 1977 to 1983 he taught dogmatic theology at the ‘Studio Teologico Accademico Bolognese’. From 1958 to 1966 he served as chaplain to Catholic University graduates and from 1966 to 1970 he served as a delegate for Catholic Action. From 1968 he was president of the John XXIII Diocesan Cultural Center.

In 1983, he was appointed Auxiliary of Reggio Emilia and Guastalla. As vice president of the Preparatory Committee, he contributed to the realization of the Ecclesial Convention of Loreto (1985) which has become a reference point in the dialogue between the Church and Italian society following the wounds of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1985, he was elected member of the Bishops’ Commission for Catholic Education, Culture and School.

Ruini was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 1991 by Pope John Paul II, marking the beginning of his most influential period in the Church. He served as the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference from 1991 to 2007, a position that allowed him to exert considerable influence over the direction of the Catholic Church in Italy.

During this same period, from 1991 to 2008, he also held the important position of Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, effectively acting as the Pope’s representative in the administration of the diocese.

Cardinal Ruini’s tenure was marked by his active engagement in both religious and political spheres. He was known for his ability to shape Catholic Church and political opinion in Italy, often taking strong stances on various social and moral issues. His leadership during this period was characterized by a commitment to maintaining the Church’s relevance and influence in an increasingly secular society.

Cardinal Ruini was outspoken in his opposition to homosexual rights. Ruini warned that giving full legal recognition to unmarried couples would represent an “eclipsing of the nature and value of a family and a very grave harm to the Italian people.” In 2005, he received an award for his stance against full recognition of same-sex relationships.

In the same year, he was very active in the mass media and was the strongest voice of the Church against a referendum advocating the liberalization of Italy’s legal restrictions on artificial insemination. The referendum failed to pass and Ruini was praised for his strategy to prevent the referendum from passing and his determination to speak out.

The Italian cardinal was also known for his views on the relationship between faith and politics, as well as his perspectives on the challenges facing the Catholic Church in modern Europe. He frequently addressed issues such as secularism, Islam, and what he perceived as the “naturalistic tendency of modern man,” which he considered a significant threat to religious faith.

In recent years, Cardinal Ruini has faced health challenges. He was hospitalized for heart disease, though he was subsequently discharged, demonstrating his resilience even in his later years. Despite stepping down from his official roles, Ruini has continued to be a respected voice within the Catholic Church, often commenting on contemporary issues and the direction of the Church.