{"id":3909,"date":"2017-12-16T14:05:35","date_gmt":"2017-12-16T13:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.centesimusannus.org\/the-institution\/history\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T17:17:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:17:26","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.centesimusannus.va\/en\/institution\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The event that spawned the idea of creating the Foundation \u201cCentesimus Annus \u2013 Pro Pontifice\u201d was the publication of Pope John Paul II\u2019s Encyclical \u201cCentesimus Annus\u201d on May 1st, 1991, the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII\u2019s Encyclical \u201cRerum Novarum\u201d. One hundred years later, the Holy Father felt the need to give voice to his own thoughts on social issues and articulate his vision, which places the human being at the center of all economic activities.<\/p>

A meditated reading of \u201cCentesimus Annus\u201d prompted some enlightened people to action, urging qualified Catholic business and financial leaders to join forces, help diffuse the basic principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church expounded in the Encyclical and at the same time look for new sources of funding for the activities of the Holy See, which must respond to the ever increasing needs of the whole Church, or rather of the whole mankind.<\/p>

Under the guidance of His Eminence Rosalio Cardinal Castillo Lara and Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, some businessmen and bankers began looking for endorsements. The idea took form and gradually developed into a series of person to person and group meetings. The response was very encouraging and Cardinal Castillo Lara, having duly informed the Secretariat of State, submitted his project to the Holy Father. CAPP was accordingly established by Pope John Paul II on June 5th, 1993.<\/p>

As mandated by CAPP By-Laws, the Cardinal President of APSA (Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See) supervises the activity of the Foundation.<\/p>

Cardinal Castillo Lara was succeeded at APSA\u2018s helm by Lorenzo Cardinal Antonetti, Agostino Cardinal Cacciavillan, Attilio Cardinal Nicora, Domenico Cardinal Calcagno and Nunzio Cardinal Galantino. Currently the President of APSA is S.E. Rev.ma Mons. Giordano Piccinotti, S.D.B. APSA Presidents have always acted jointly with APSA Secretaries. Initially the Secretary was Archbishop, now Cardinal, Lajolo. He was succeeded by Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, CAPP International Counsellor; then by Archbishop Calcagno and the Rev. Msgr. Mauro Rivella. Today APSA Secretary is Dr. Fabio Gasperini.<\/p>

Over time a number of Presidents of the Foundation\u2019s Board of Directors have held the role, as follows:<\/p>

\u2013 Dott. Roberto Mazzotta (1993 \u2013 1997);
\u2013 Conte Dott. Lorenzo Rossi di Montelera (1997 \u2013 2009);
\u2013 Dr. Domingo Sugranyes Bickel (2009 \u2013 2019);
\u2013 Prof.ssa Anna Maria Tarantola (2019 \u2013 2024);
\u2013 Prof. Paolo Garonna (from July 26th, 2024).<\/p>

Initially the Board counted seven members, all of them Italian.The first non Italian Directors were appointed in May 2004, demonstrating the internationality of our institution. The same year an amendment to CAPP By-Laws bringing the number of Directors to nine was approved.<\/p>

From its inception CAPP operates from offices located in the Apostolic Palace.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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History<\/h2>

The origins and evolution of our foundation<\/p>

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By laws and Regulations<\/h2>

The official documents that guide our activities<\/p>

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Goals<\/h2>

The foundation operates on a non-profit basis
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