SANCTIFYING OFFICE
In his capacity as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Filoni expressed several thoughts on the sacraments and their role in the Christian life and mission of the Church.
Baptism
The cardinal has emphasized the importance of baptism as the foundation of every Christian’s missionary vocation: all baptized persons are called to be missionaries and evangelizers. Baptism “empowers us to proclaim and preach the Gospel to all nations,” he has said. On another occasion he remarked that there is a need to be “more clearly aware of the gift of baptism.”
Filoni sees baptism not only as an initial sacrament, but as a dynamic force that continually impels Christians toward holiness, mission, and constant renewal in faith, emphasizing its central role in the life and identity of the Church. Baptism, he has said, requires continuous conversion and the need to constantly “renew” oneself in the baptismal faith. The sacrament also unites us as “brothers and sisters” in a “common belonging,” but he has not explicitly spoken about “common baptism.”1”Common baptism” is often construed by progressives as the idea that the sacrament is a recognition of one’s inherent belovedness in God’s eyes, rather than a rite of exclusion or a means to become beloved. Through it, they aim to promote unity and inclusivity rather than divisiveness among Christian traditions.
The Eucharist
Cardinal Filoni sees the Eucharist as a fundamental gift for the Christian life, also closely linked to the mission of the Church and the transformation of the faithful. Indeed, the cardinal, through his time serving as prefect of Propaganda Fidei, often framed the sacraments within the Church’s evangelizing mission. The sacraments are instruments of transformation and grace, he has stressed, fundamental to living the “joy of proclaiming the Gospel” and contribute to “full communion with God the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In short, Cardinal Filoni has a fundamentally orthodox understanding of the sacraments, especially baptism and the Eucharist, and views them as essential elements for Christian life and the Church’s evangelizing mission. He emphasizes their role in transforming the faithful and empowering them to actively participate in spreading the Gospel.
Christ-Centeredness
The Italian cardinal has been at pains to point out that the Church’s mission should be centered on Christ rather than being solely shaped by current political realities. He has stressed that the Church must rediscover her strength by focusing on Christ, moving beyond a purely sociological view of intervention in society.
The Church’s mission, he has said, is not competitive and should never be read “as if it were an electoral competition.” The mission of the Church, he believes, is “moral, spiritual, but not detached from this world, that is, deeply human and living in and with the crises of humanity.”
Formation
Cardinal Filoni has stressed that the spiritual formation of seminarians must be oriented towards a deep understanding of the missionary nature of the Church. He specifically mentioned the importance of the Liturgy of the Hours in the formation of seminarians, and encouraged filial devotion to the Virgin Mary, particularly through the prayer of the Holy Rosary.
In addition to these specific elements, Cardinal Filoni emphasized the need for a complete liturgical formation that includes: a solid foundation of general culture; a deep knowledge of the sacred sciences; and the acquisition of human virtues and ecclesial sense. The cardinal stressed that these aspects are essential to form priests who are “true disciples of Christ and authentic servants of the Church.”
Neocatechumenal Way
Filoni has been a longtime ally and fervent supporter of the Neocatechumenal Way. He is considered a “sponsor of the Neocatechumenals” and during his tenure as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, he actively promoted the vision of evangelisation of Kiko Argüello, founder of the movement.
Filoni reportedly encouraged the Neocatechumenal Way’s approach to the re-evangelization of de-Christianized areas. He also supported the concept of mission inter gentes proposed by the movement. Filoni’s farewell message to the dicastery had as its central theme “Every baptized person is a missionary” — consistent with the post-baptismal renewal proposed by the lay charism of the Neocatechumenal Way.
The Neocatechumenal Way has been criticized in the past for deviating from the Church’s liturgical norms in their celebration of the Mass, as well as having some doctrinal concerns.
Despite directives from Church authorities, there are reports that many Neocatechumenal communities continue their distinctive practices. This persistence, combined with the movement’s size and influence, has made it challenging for Church authorities to enforce liturgical norms consistently. Filoni’s continued alliance with them, while in many ways laudable and understandable given the good work they do in other areas, may cause some to question his judgment.
GOVERNANCE
Cardinal Filoni’s governing capabilities are significant. He has held several senior Vatican positions and has an impressive diplomatic resumé spanning several decades and covering various challenging assignments across the globe.
His early diplomatic assignments were in Sri Lanka (1981-1983), Iran (1983-1985), and Brazil (1989-1992). He spent the rest of the 1990s in Asia — specifically Hong Kong where he opened a “study mission” on mainland China, and working from there, was also assigned to the apostolic nunciature to the Philippines. His time in Iran was during the hardest period of the Iran-Iraq War, and he was in China during upheavals caused by the reforms of Den Xiaoping.
Nuncio in Iraq
From 2001 to 2006, Filoni was apostolic nuncio to Jordan and Iraq. Famously, he remained at his post in Baghdad during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, when other diplomats fled for safety. “If a pastor flees in moments of difficulty,” he said later, “the sheep are lost.” His courageous decision earned him the nickname “Nuncio Courage” among Iraqis as he stayed behind to share in the suffering and risks faced by the local population, also after the hostilities had ended.
During the conflict, Filoni took several commendable actions: He kept the churches open even at night, providing shelter for people seeking refuge; he personally visited areas hit by bombings, offering support and solidarity to those affected; and in line with Pope John Paul II’s stance, Filoni opposed the U.S. invasion and continued to push for peaceful resolutions.
Filoni refused to accept any special personal security measures, denying himself guards and armored vehicles. His aim, he said, was to be seen “as an Iraqi, by the Iraqis.”
However, such commitment to his mission put him in harm’s way multiple times: He came close to being killed on February 1, 2006, when a car bomb exploded next to the nunciature. During the bombing campaign, missiles fell near the nunciature, yet Filoni remained, stating that staying with the people was “nothing exceptional.”
His experiences in Iraq inspired his later work, including his current role as grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He also wrote a book on the experience.
Substitute Secretariat of State
On returning from Iraq, in July 2007 Benedict XVI promoted then-Archbishop Filoni to the highly responsible position of substitute for General Affairs (sostituto) in the Vatican Secretariat of State — essentially the Pope’s chief of staff responsible for the smooth running of the Roman Curia. He remained in the position until 2011.
During that tenure, he had several key responsibilities and experiences. These included organizing the activities of the Roman Curia; managing official translations of papal documents and correspondence; resolving legal issues; overseeing personnel management in the Curia and nunciatures; handling protocol and etiquette for visiting heads of state; managing information and media relations; overseeing Vatican archive management; and coordinating the activities of nuncios worldwide in their dealings with local churches.
During his time as substitute, Cardinal Filoni had regular interactions with Pope Benedict XVI, meeting with him at least once a week to discuss important issues and receive guidance on various aspects of Curia and Church life. He was also involved in organizing papal trips abroad and discussing how to accommodate requests for meetings with abuse victims during these trips.
As sostituto, Cardinal Filoni had to deal with several crises, mostly revolving around dealing with historical clerical sexual abuse cases. He was present during meetings between the Pope and abuse survivors.
In 2009, a major controversy erupted when Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications on four SSPX bishops, one of whom, Bishop Richard Williamson, had denied the Holocaust. The incident caused a significant public backlash, and although Filoni was not responsible for it, he had to manage its aftermath.
In early 2010, another complex scandal known as the Boffo affair unfolded. The incident involved allegations that senior Vatican officials were implicated in a plot to smear an Italian Catholic journalist. The details of this affair were particularly convoluted and damaging to the Vatican’s reputation.
The Vatileaks scandal, which involved the leaking of confidential Vatican documents, also occurred during this period and significantly damaged trust within the Vatican, although Filoni was not believed to have been involved.
However, during his tenure, cardinals and some diplomats accredited to the Holy See expressed growing frustration regarding what they perceived as antiquated and dysfunctional ways of doing business in the Vatican during those years of Benedict XVI’s pontificate. As an insider during this period, Filoni was likely affected by this sentiment. Some believed that the problems may have had something to do with friction between Filoni and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the then-Vatican secretary of state, who was often blamed for the problems within the curia during this time.
Prefect of Propaganda Fide
Cardinal Fernando Filoni had an intense tenure as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (Propaganda Fide), a position he held for eight years, from 2011 to 2019.
He conducted approximately 50 pastoral trips to various continents, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. These visits allowed him to witness firsthand the diverse faces of local churches and their efforts to spread the Gospel.
During that time Cardinal Filoni observed and supported the work of local churches in translating the Gospel to meet the needs of faithful from various cultures and languages. He appreciated the richness of their missionary work, which encompassed: spiritual formation, moral education, intellectual and scholastic formation, social assistance to people facing challenges such as migration, persecution, violence, and discrimination.
As mentioned above, one of his main concerns related to priestly formation, including higher education for priests, seminarians, and women religious through various Colleges in Rome and other institutions worldwide; updating and training seminary professors to ensure high-quality teaching; and formation of seminary leaders, including rectors and vice rectors, to ensure the correct approach to priestly and religious life.
Throughout his time as prefect, Cardinal Filoni viewed missionary work as a collective effort, emphasizing that every Christian should feel part of this mission and recognize God as the ultimate author of the work accomplished.
An expert on China, he described the 2018 secret provisional agreement between the Vatican and Beijing as having “historical significance.”
But in a long 2019 interview with L’Osservatore Romano he expressed some apprehension about the agreement, saying he understood “the perplexities, sometimes I share them.”
A few months after the article appeared, and two years before the normal retiring age of cardinals, Filoni, 73, was transferred from serving as prefect of Propaganda Fide to being appointed grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. It is not clear if the subtle criticism of the agreement was the cause of his transfer, but his departure happened so abruptly after the article was published that some connection is likely possible.
Grand Master
Appointed in December 2019 grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, an organization that has a special focus on helping persecuted Christians in the Middle East, the role in many ways suited Cardinal Filoni given his experiences of wartime Iraq and time spent as a Vatican diplomat in Iran.
As grand master, Cardinal Filoni has placed a strong emphasis on deepening the spiritual aspects of the Order. He wrote a 2021 book titled The House was Filled with the Fragrance of the Perfume focusing on the spirituality of the Holy Sepulchre, aimed at boosting the Order’s spiritual dimension. The cardinal has also stressed that the symbols used in the Order “reflect spiritual realities, foster the practice of the Christian virtues and favor a more intimate participation in the order’s life.”
The cardinal has also overseen a significant change involving the reform of investiture rites.2The Order has moved to standardize the ceremony for both men and women, ensuring that “the celebration of the most solemn act foreseen by the liturgy of the order, is identical, in words and gestures.” Notably, the use of swords in the swearing-in rite has been discontinued, reflecting a shift towards emphasizing spiritual aspects over traditional chivalric elements.
Cardinal Filoni has also maintained the Order’s focus on supporting Christians in the Holy Land, overseeing responses to requests for aid following outbreaks of conflict in the Israeli-Palestinian region. He has also encouraged “deep communion” with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and called on all lieutenancies of the Order to organize support as needed.
Under Cardinal Filoni’s leadership, the Order has also taken steps to emphasize the equal dignity of its members.
Through these initiatives, Filoni has sought to balance the Order’s rich traditions with contemporary spiritual needs and social values, while maintaining its core mission of supporting the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Vision for the Church
In a 2022 commentary for ACI Stampa, Cardinal Filoni gave a clear picture of his vision for the Church and mission. Not only must Christ be placed at the center of her mission, he believes, but the papacy, bishops, religious, and the baptized faithful must together regain “awareness of themselves and their Christological vocation.”
A fervent advocate of the Second Vatican Council, he believes the Council brought much needed reform: specifically that it developed the concept of human dignity and man’s personal freedom, and that “institutions were no longer in the first place.”
In this way, he believes that it opened the path to interreligious dialogue and ecumenism, removing “the rust deposited by negativities” while opening up a missionary spirit “respectful of the contemporary world, a place of restlessness in search of answers.”
Ignoring criticism of the Council and what some see as the negative effects of the years that followed it, especially regarding mission and evangelization, Filoni sees it as having “enormously” boosted “the moral and spiritual role of the pope.” Furthermore, thanks to the Council, the Italian cardinal trumpeted the creation of bishops’ conferences and the Synod of Bishops — welcome structures, he believes, because of their “important role from a pastoral point of view.”
Cardinal Filoni added that bishops’ conferences foster communion and support among bishops and with the pope, and have an important part of the Church’s presence in the world, bridging personal and collegial forms of jurisdiction. The cardinal further emphasized that bishops’ conferences are often more effective than individual bishops in defending ecclesial and human values at regional or national levels. And he noted their ability to address internal country issues in line with the principle of subsidiarity, which allows for support without unnecessary intervention from higher authorities.
Filoni believes there is still much to explore regarding the Christological and missionary vocation of bishops. “There are those who are already thinking of a Vatican Council III, and the opinions are respectable,” he said. “But has the Second Vatican Council already exhausted its function about the role of the Church in the world?”
Book on Bishops’ Conferences
Filoni’s recent 2024 book Episcopal Conferences. A Modern Institution of Ecclesial Communion develops these themes further. A work on ecclesiology, it examines the developments and concrete reality of the Body of Christ in the contemporary Church.
The cardinal said it was the fruit of his ten-year commitment in the world, in the service of the Church: as a bishop, as substitute of the secretariat of state and as a diplomat of the Holy See. Bishops conferences, he said at the launch of the book, have played a central role in recent history: during the decades of the Second Post-War period, in the reception of the Second Vatican Council, in provincial, regional and national ecclesial life. He believes they therefore “constitute an essential basis of contemporary Catholic life.”
TEACHING
Theology
Cardinal Filoni is regarded as having theological and philosophical expertise and has written several books on the subject as well as many texts. They include God and Otherness in the Thought of Emmanuel Levinas (1979); and Morality as a philosophy of life in Socrates (1981). His theology was also incorporated in two more recent works that focused on his service in the Middle East: The Church in the Land of Abraham. From the Babylon Diocese of the Latins to the Apostolic Nunciature in Iran (2008), and The Church in Iraq – History, Development and Mission, from the Beginnings to the Present Day (2015).
During his younger years in Rome, Fernando Filoni devoted himself to educating young people and teaching at the Vivona and Socrates classical high schools, an experience that helped him consolidate and transmit his theological knowledge.
As prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Filoni emphasized the importance of solid theological formation for missionaries. He recommended that bishops ensure that “an authentic Catholic theology of mission” is taught in seminaries and houses of formation for religious.
Moral Issues, Human Dignity
As with many Holy See diplomats, Cardinal Filoni tends to keep quiet about controversial, hot button topics. It is not clear what he thinks about women deacons, for instance, same-sex blessings, the restriction of the Vetus Ordo with Traditionis Custodes, climate change, the Church’s teaching on contraception, or even synodality.
What is clear is that he firmly holds to the post-conciliar emphasis on human dignity in Christian thought. And while not explicitly stated, Cardinal Filoni’s experiences as apostolic nuncio to Iraq during times of conflict, and his willingness to stay with the displaced, suggest he has a focus on migrants and refugees.
Cardinal Filoni appears to support traditional Catholic values and teachings more generally. Furthermore, he has defended the rights of Christians to remain in their historic lands in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of preserving Christian communities and their heritage.
China
One of Filoni’s keen interests is China, a passion that dates back to his time in Hong Kong as a Vatican diplomat in the 1990s.
Cardinal Filoni has acknowledged the historical significance of the 2018 Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and China regarding the appointment of bishops, viewing it as an important step in supporting the preaching of the Gospel and reestablishing unity within the Catholic community in China.
“It is not about the ‘underground’ surrendering to the ‘official’ or to the civil authorities, regardless of the appearance, nor of a victory over the non-official community,” he said soon after the agreement was signed.
But Filoni has also expressed understanding for those who have doubts and perplexities about the accords, and said that he sometimes shared them himself. He has said he hoped the agreement would not be exploited to compel actions not required by Chinese law, such as joining the Patriotic Association.
Filoni has stressed that there is only one Catholic Church in China, not separate “patriotic” and “faithful” churches, and believes the faith of the Chinese people has prevented a schism, despite the challenges faced by both official and underground communities.
The cardinal has described the Vatican’s efforts as fostering reconciliation between the two Catholic communities in China, and likens this process to reuniting two streams of water that were divided by a boulder, acknowledging that it is “still not easy.”
Filoni has also acknowledged the challenges faced by the Church in China, including the “lack of real freedom” and “temptations of comfort.” He has emphasized the need for gradual progress and psychological preparation for reconciliation.
On China in general, Cardinal Filoni tried to strike a careful balance between supporting engagement with China and addressing concerns about religious freedom and the rights of Catholics in the country.
Support for Cardinal Zen
Despite having more moderate views about Vatican-China relations than Cardinal Joseph Zen-Ze-kiun, Cardinal Filoni has been one of the few active Vatican officials — probably the only one — to speak up in support of Zen when he was put on trial by the communist Hong Kong government in 2022. He described Zen as a “man of God” at times intemperate, but submissive to the love of Christ. “Hong Kong, China and the Church have a devoted son in him, not to be ashamed of,” he said.
Middle East
As grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Cardinal Filoni weighed in on the situation in Gaza, the Holy Land, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He strongly advocates for the recognition of both Israeli and Palestinian rights to exist, and states, “You cannot negate Palestinians the right to exist, and you cannot deny Israelis the right to exist, both of them, in peace.” He further believes that peace cannot be achieved without justice, arguing that an unjust peace would only lead to further conflict and violence.
Filoni has been critical of certain aspects of the conflict, referring to Israeli settlements in occupied territories as “not normal” and “an act of violence.” And he has described the Israeli invasion of Gaza as “illegal” and “violent.”
While the Vatican has traditionally supported a two-state solution, Filoni said he did not know “if two states are better than one, integrated,” suggesting a possible shift in the Vatican’s thinking. Asked whether the two-state solution was still a viable option, Filoni said, “I can’t say,” and added that predicting the potential outcome of such a solution is difficult, because “they are two realities that live in the same territory.”
Role of the Equestrian Order
Filoni has clarified that while the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre is not directly involved in politics or peace negotiations, it plays a crucial role in supporting the Christian community in the Holy Land. The order provides financial assistance to various initiatives, including schools and hospitals that serve people of all faiths.
Vision for the Future
Cardinal Filoni envisions a future of peaceful coexistence in the Holy Land. He believes that by demonstrating the possibility of peace through the work of the order’s institutions, a broader framework for coexistence can be established. While the knights and dames might not directly interfere with peace and diplomacy, he said, “we can be workers.”
“If we are able to prove that peace is possible, then it can be applied to all in the Holy Land,” he said. “Just because we don’t talk about coexistence, it doesn’t mean it does not exist. The future of this land is peaceful coexistence, which is still possible, but we have to build it,” he added.
Filoni’s perspective suggests a nuanced approach to the conflict, one that prioritizes the well-being and rights of both Israelis and Palestinians over specific political solutions.
This entry will be expanded upon soon.
- 1”Common baptism” is often construed by progressives as the idea that the sacrament is a recognition of one’s inherent belovedness in God’s eyes, rather than a rite of exclusion or a means to become beloved. Through it, they aim to promote unity and inclusivity rather than divisiveness among Christian traditions.
- 2The Order has moved to standardize the ceremony for both men and women, ensuring that “the celebration of the most solemn act foreseen by the liturgy of the order, is identical, in words and gestures.” Notably, the use of swords in the swearing-in rite has been discontinued, reflecting a shift towards emphasizing spiritual aspects over traditional chivalric elements.
