Paul Marcinkus

Paul Casimir Marcinkus was born on January 15, 1922, in Cicero, Illinois. He was ordained to the presbyterate for the archdiocese of Chicago on May 3, 1947. On January 6, 1969, he was ordained to the episcopate as Titular Archbishop of Horta and Secretary of the Roman Curia. On September 26, 1981, Msgr. Marcinkus was appointed Pro-President of Vatican City. He resigned that position on October 30, 1990.

Related Topics:
January 15 - 1922 - Cicero, Illinois - Archdiocese of Chicago - May 3 - 1947 - January 6 - 1969 - Roman Curia - September 26 - 1981 - President of Vatican City - October 30 - 1990

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Msgr. Marcinkus was the president of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione or the Vatican Bank from 1971 - 1989. In the early part of the 1980's, Msgr. Marcinkus was being implicated in financial scandals being reported on the front pages of newspapers and magazines throughout Europe, particularly the collapse of the Banco Ambrosiano (Marcinkus had been a director of Ambrosiano Overseas, based in Nassau, and had been involved with Ambrosiano's chairman Roberto Calvi for a number of years). The Italian government sought Marcinkus as key people surrounding Marcinkus were being found dead. A journalist investigating Marcinkus, the Vatican Bank and ties to organized crime was also found dead.

Related Topics:
Istituto per le Opere di Religione - Vatican Bank - 1971 - 1989 - Banco Ambrosiano - Roberto Calvi - Dead - Organized crime

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The following quote is atrributed to Msgr. Marcinkus: "You can't run the Church on Hail Marys" (quoted in the May 25, 1986, Observer, London).

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Pope John Paul II kept Marcinkus at the Vatican seven years before Marcinkus returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago; tellingly, however, he was never made a Cardinal. As of 2003, he was reportedly living in Sun City, Arizona.

Related Topics:
Pope John Paul II - Cardinal - 2003 - Sun City, Arizona

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