Agostino Cacciavillan

Agostino Cacciavillan (14 August 1926 – 5 March 2022) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, and a cardinal since 2001. He worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1959 to 1998; he was given the titles of archbishop and nuncio in 1998 and served as Pro-Nuncio to Kenya, India, Nepal, and the United States between 1976 and 1998. He then worked in the Roman Curia from 1998 to 2002 as President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

Early life Cacciavillan was born on 14 August 1926 in Novale di Valdagno; he had eight siblings. In preparation for a diplomat’s career, he completed the course of study at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1957.

Diplomatic career Cacciavillan entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1959. He served as secretary of the nunciature to the Philippines (1960–1964), of the nunciature to Spain (1964–1968), and of the nunciature to Portugal (1968). He received his episcopal consecration on 21 February from Cardinal Jean-Marie Villot, with Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy and Bishop Carlo Fanton serving as co-consecrators, at St. Peter's Basilica. He selected as his episcopal motto: "In Virtute Dei".

While nuncio to Kenya, Cacciavillan also served as Permanent Observer to the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. and the first Pro-Nuncio to Nepal on 30 April 1985. On 13 June 1990, he was named to succeed Archbishop Pio Laghi as Pro-Nuncio to the United States and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Organization of American States. He also served as the Holy See's representative to the World Association of Jurists. He was instrumental in the promotion of McCarrick to the see of Washington in 1999 over O'Connor's objections. In a letter to Cardinal Re, who had asked him for advice on McCarrick at the request of Pope John Paul II, Cacciavillan argued that no enquiry should be made into these letters' claims because "Nothing new would be learned, and worse, a 'trial situation' could be created against Msgr. McCarrick, leaving the impression of great concern, which would have the effect of receiving answers in harmony with the expressed concern, rather than a de-dramatization, whereas a de-dramatization might perhaps be justified."

Curia career On 5 November 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed Cacciavillan to a five-year term as President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APAS). He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino in the consistory of 21 February 2001. He retired as President of the APAS when his resignation was accepted and he was replaced as president on 1 October 2002 by Attilio Nicora. Cacciavillan was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Cacciavillan, as the longest serving cardinal deacon, was Cardinal Protodeacon, the cardinal who makes the Habemus Papam announcement upon the conclusion of a papal conclave, from 1 March 2008, when Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos became a cardinal priest In the Roman Curia, he was a member of the Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. He lost these positions on reaching his 80th birthday.

Cacciavillan died at his residence in Vatican City, in the early hours of the morning on 5 March 2022, at the age of 95.