Sergio Guerri

Sergio Guerri (December 25, 1905&mdash;March 15, 1992) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as personal theologian to five popes from 1955 to 1989, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969.

Biography
Sergio Guerri was born in Tarquinia, and studied at the Interdiocesan Seminary of Montefiascone, Seminary of Viterbo, Pontifical Roman Seminary, Pontifical Lateran University, and the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare. Ordained to the priesthood on March 30, 1929, he finished his studies in 1931, when he began pastoral work in Tarquinia. Guerri then served as Administrator of the Pontifical Urbaniana University from 1937 to 1941. He was raised to the rank of a Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on April 11, 1940, and later a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness June 19, 1949.

He was also an official (1941-1946) and substitute secretary (1946-1948) of the Institute for Works of Religion in the Roman Curia. On March 9, 1948, Guerri was named Pro-Secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, becoming its full Secretary on January 1, 1951. He was later made a canon of St. Peter's Basilica on April 25, 1952. Named Secretary of the Central Preparatory Commission on June 22, 1960, Guerri was administrative secretary of the Second Vatican Council from 1960 to 1965. He was made Secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of Holy See (May 7, 1968) before becoming Pro-President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State on November 6, 1968.

On April 11, 1969, in advance of his cardinalatial promotion, Guerri was appointed Titular Archbishop of Trebia. He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 27 from Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops Joseph Mark McShea and Plinio Pascoli, serving as co-consecrators, in the chapel of the Lateran Seminary. Shortly afterwards, Pope Paul VI created him Cardinal Deacon of SS. Nome di Maria al Foro Troiano in the consistory of April 28, 1969.

Guerri was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the conclaves of August and October 1978, which selected Popes John Paul I and John Paul II respectively. After ten year's standing as a Cardinal Deacon, he opted to become a Cardinal Priest, with the same titular church, on June 30, 1979. He resigned as Pro-President of Vatican City State on September 26, 1981, following almost fourteen years of service.

The Cardinal died in Vatican City, at age 86. He is buried in his family's chapel at the cemetery of Tarquinia.