Paolo Sardi

Who is Paolo Sardi?

Paolo Sardi STL is an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the current patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Sardi was born in Ricaldone, Province of Alessandria. Sardi was ordained a priest on 29 June 1958, after a licentiate in theology he graduated in canon law and jurisprudence at the Università Cattolica Milano. He taught moral theology in Turin until 1976, when he was called to the Vatican to work in the Secretariat of State. In 1992 he was appointed Vice Councillor for General Affairs and on 10 December 1996, Apostolic Nuncio with special responsibilities and Titular Archbishop of Sutrium by Pope John Paul II. Archbishop Sardi co-ordinates the Vatican office that edits the Pope's texts and addresses. On 6 January 1997, Pope John Paul ordained him an archbishop in Saint Peter's Basilica.

On 23 October 2004 he was appointed Vice Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. He was appointed to succeed Pio Laghi, who died in January 2009 as pro-patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Archbishop Sardi has the task of promoting the spiritual interests of the Order and its members and its relations with the Holy See.