Dominique Mamberti: Who is the cardinal deacon who will announce the new pope to the world?

Unknown to most, but a starring fig successful Vatican diplomacy, Dominique Mamberti is nan Cardinal Protodeacon will soon person nan task of shouting "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus Papam!" — I denote a awesome joy: we person nan Pope!

He will beryllium nan first to speak from nan cardinal pavilion of St. Peter's Basilica to denote nan personality of nan caller pontiff to nan world. He is not excluded from nan anticipation of becoming Pope himself — successful which lawsuit his domiciled will beryllium played by different cardinal deacon elector — but his sanction has not been circulated arsenic a contender starring up to nan conclave that will chose Pope Francis' successor.

Mamberti obtained nan agency of cardinal protodeacon successful October 2024, having go nan astir elder cardinal belonging to nan Order of Deacons, 1 of nan 3 orders that dress up nan College of Cardinals together pinch nan Order of Presbyters and nan Order of Bishops.

Before him, nan Frenchman Jean-Louis Tauran served arsenic protodeacon for Pope Benedict XVI, and nan Chilean Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez for Pope Francis.

Announcing John Paul I and John Paul II, some successful 1978, was Italian Cardinal Pericle Felici.

Who is Dominique Mamberti?

Mamberti was calved connected 7 March 1952 successful nan archdiocese of Rabat, Morocco, but grew up connected nan French land of Corsica, wherever he moved pinch his parents astatine a very young age.

After studying rule successful Strasbourg and Paris, Mamberti graduated successful Canon Law astatine nan Gregorian University successful Rome.

In 2002, he was appointed titular archbishop of Sagona, Corsica, past apostolic nuncio successful Sudan and apostolic delegate successful Somalia. In 2004, he besides took up nan station of apostolic nuncio to Eritrea.

In 2004 he was called by Pope Benedict XVI to nan secretariat of authorities arsenic caput for relations pinch states representing nan Holy See successful world affairs, a station he held for 8 years earlier being moved by Pope Francis to nan Vatican judiciary successful 2014. He was appointed cardinal nan pursuing year.

Pope Francis besides appointed him Prefect of nan Supreme Tribunal of nan Apostolic Signatura, 1 of nan Holy See's 3 main judicial bodies.

Diplomatic profession and ineligible appointments

Mamberti is considered 1 of nan Vatican's experts successful world politics. As a diplomat of nan Holy See, he has worked astatine nan UN successful New York and successful Algeria, Chile, successful Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. He has besides dealt pinch countries successful nan Middle East.

On behalf of nan Holy See, he made galore trips and signed respective bilateral agreements, including nan statement pinch Cape Verde connected nan ineligible position of nan Catholic Church successful nan African state successful 2013 and nan 1 pinch Serbia connected collaboration successful higher acquisition successful 2014.

His assignment arsenic prefect was seen by immoderate arsenic a move to fortify papal power complete nan Vatican judiciary, particularly aft nan removal of his predecessor, Cardinal Raymond Burke, who was known for his blimpish views.

The cardinal's positions

Mamberti is successful favour of protecting belief freedom, quality authorities and basal freedoms. He has besides often condemned nan increasing secularism of nan church.

In an question and reply pinch Vatican Radio successful 2013, he said he supported nan legitimacy of a "conscience clause" for Christian employers who refused services to homosexuals.

His words drew disapproval from LGBT+ associations, which interpreted them arsenic legitimising discrimination.

However, according documents quoted by nan newspaper L'Espresso successful 2011 regarding a gathering pinch nan bishops of Uganda successful 2009, Mamberti took a different statement connected nan country's projected rule imposing harsh penalties for homosexual behaviour, including nan decease penalty.

The then-secretary for relations pinch states reportedly condemned nan proposal, saying nan rumor of intersexual predisposition should person fallen "within nan civilized sphere and not nan penal sphere".

The afloat statements were not made nationalist by nan Holy See, and location was nary charismatic clarification.