The Holy Father has appointed Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical Lateran University Fr. Alfonso V. Amarante, C.Ss.R., until now President of the Alphonsian Academy in Rome ( Pontifical Institute of Moral Theology ad instar Facultatis ), conferring on him at the same time the title of Archbishop and assigning him the titular See of Sorres.
Pope Francis also directed a special letter to our confrere, Fr. Alfonso Amarante, describing the mission of the newly named Rector of the Pontifical Lateran Univerity:
Having chosen you as Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical Lateran University, I entrust you with a laborious and promising task. You will have to complete the work so well begun by your predecessor, Professor Vincenzo Buonomo. It is a matter of making the Lateran University more robust and agile to better fulfill its first task: to proclaim the truth and joy of the Gospel through study, reflection and academic work. The University ‘of the Pope’ will have to immerse itself in this mission, aware of its special closeness to the Successor of Peter and his task of confirming the brothers, and this in the historical, ecclesial and cultural time in which the Lord has called us to live. […]
(original text in Italian; see the entire letter)
Curriculum vitae
Fr. Alfonso V. Amarante, C.SS.R., was born in Pagani, Italy, on 26 December 1970. He entered the studentate of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.SS.R.) in Naples, made his first profession on 29 September 1993 and perpetual vows on 29 September 1996. He was ordained a priest on 21 June 1997.
After obtaining a Baccalaureate in Theology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy in Naples in 1996, he obtained a Licentiate in Church History in 1999 at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a Doctorate in Theology in 2002. He perfected his curriculum studiorum in Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy.
He has held the following positions: Bursar and Assistant Formator of the Students of the Redemptorist Province of Southern Italy (2000-2002); since 2003 Invited Professor at the Alphonsian Academy, later becoming an Ordinary Professor in 2017; Director of the Saint Alphonsus Major College in Rome for Redemptorist student priests (2002-2007); Responsible for the Redemptorist Vocational Youth Pastoral of the Province of the Redemptorist Missionaries of Southern Italy (2008-2011); Lecturer at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of Southern Italy in Naples and at the Pontifical Urbanian University (2008-2016); Councillor of the Province of the Redemptorists of Southern Italy (2011-2014); Vice-President of the Alphonsian Academy (2013-2018); Member and Treasurer of the Italian Association of Professors of Church History (2017-2023); since 2002 Vice-President of the Association Editiones Academiae Alfonsianae – Edacalf; since 2011 Consultant at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints; since 2014 Editor-in-Chief and member of the Scientific Committee of the journal Spicilegium Historicum CSsR; since 2017 Professor of Moral Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University and co-responsible for the formation of the laity associated with the Redemptorists; since 2018 President of the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy and Secretary of the Conference of Rectors of Roman Pontifical Universities and Institutions; since 2019 Visitator of the Holy See Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of the Quality of Universities and Ecclesiastical Faculties.
(Vatican Press Office)
