The Order bids last farewell to Honorary Assessor Msgr. Giuseppe De Andrea

Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea was born in Rivarolo Canavese on 20 April, 1930. He was ordained a priest in 1953 in the Consolata Missions Institute, a congregation that devotes particular attention to the evangelization of peoples.

The young priest served in the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania (USA), for more than two decades, where he held various pastoral positions in education and administration. He was called by the Holy See to serve in the office of Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York from 1983 to 1994. Subsequently for five years he worked for the Vatican as the Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

Monsignor De Andrea received the fullness of the priesthood in 2001 and was appointed titular Archbishop of Anzio. He also received the responsibility of serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Yemen, in addition to serving as Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula. In the homily at De Andrea’s episcopal consecration, Cardinal Angelo Sodano recalled the faithfulness to the call received that has always accompanied this pastor of God’s Church: “Dear Father Giuseppe, an immense field of work opens before you. As the young Samuel, you listened to the Lord’s voice, and promptly responded: ‘Here I am, O Lord... your servant is listening’ (Samuel 3:1-10). Like Mary on the day of the Annunciation, you expressed your ‘yes’ to the Lord’s call”. In 2003 he was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Qatar. In 2005, upon having reached the age limit, he retired from diplomatic office.

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem has been fortunate enough to benefit from the experience and pastoral care of Msgr. De Andrea in the years when he served as Assessor of the Order (2008-2013), a position which he carried out with special dedication from 2011-2012, the period of time between the resignation of the Grand Master Cardinal Foley and the moment his successor, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, took possession of his position. From that time until his last days, as Honorary Assessor, he was always close to the mission of our Knights and Dames, and sustained it with his efforts and prayers.

Monsignor De Andrea passed away on 29 June, 2016, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, and his funeral was held on the first Friday of July in St. Peter’s Basilica. All members are united with the Grand Master, the Governor General and members of the Grand Magisterium, in accompanying this friend and supporter of the Order with prayers as he has returned to the house of the Father.

(July 4, 2016)