Cardinal Marco Cé, Patriarch Emeritus of Venice (Italy), was born in Izano in the province of Cremona and Diocese of Crema, on 8 July 1925 into a modest family of small farmers. He completed his classical studies at the Diocesan Seminary and graduated from the “A. Verri "from Lodi. He then moved to Rome as a student of the Lombard Seminary and completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Biblical Institute; at that university he obtained a degree in dogmatic theology and a licentiate in Sacred Scripture.
Upon his return to the diocese, after receiving priestly ordination on March 27, 1948, he was given the position of vice-rector of the seminary and the teaching of Sacred Scripture. In 1957, he was appointed rector of the seminary, while continuing to teach. Since its inception, he has presided over the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and closely followed the implementation of the new liturgy in the Diocese.
In addition to his didactic activities and diocesan duties, he dedicated himself with particular commitment to preaching spiritual retreats to the young people of Catholic Action and spiritual exercises to the clergy.
On 22 April 1970 he was elected to the episcopal dignity by Paul VI, designated to the titular Church of Vulturia and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cardinal Antonio Poma in the pastoral government of the Diocese of Bologna. The Episcopal Ordination ceremony took place, on the occasion of the Solemnity of Pentecost, on May 17 of that year, in the Cathedral of Crema. On 29 June he was welcomed into the Bolognese diocese with a solemn concelebration in the Basilica of S. Petronio.
In the six years of his stay in Bologna, he was involved, among other things, in the construction and development of the second Church of charity dedicated to the Virgin of S. Luca, in Borgo Panigale; he also closely followed the work that the Bolognese priests and laity have undertaken in Tanzania, going to visit the mission.
After six years in Bologna, on 30 April 1976 he was appointed by Paul VI as General Ecclesiastical Assistant of Catholic Action, succeeding in the office to Mons. Luigi Maverna, in turn designated Secretary General of the CEI.
In Catholic Action he poured all the precious pastoral, spiritual and cultural experience acquired in his tireless diocesan activity. He devoted his energies to the Association until, after the sudden death of Pope Luciani, John Paul II called him, on 7 December 1978, to lead the Patriarchate of Venice.
Patriarch emeritus of Venice since 5 January 2002.
He participated in the April 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by St. John Paul II in the consistory of 30 June 1979, of the Title of S. Marco.
Cardinal Marco Cé died in Venice on May 12, 2014.
The history of your Association
it is made up of many “saints next door” – many! –,
and it is a story that must continue:
holiness is a heritage to be guarded and a vocation to be welcomed.