# Giovanni Lajolo

_Roman Catholic priest, vatican diplomat, cardinal_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/giovanni-lajolo
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Giovanni Lajolo is an Italian cardinal and former president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and president of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 3 January 1935 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Novara ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Italy ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043#P106))
- **Education:** Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy; Pontifical Gregorian University; LMU Munich; Pontifical Roman Seminary; University of Turin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043#P69))
- **Positions held:** cardinal (since 24 November 2007); Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See (6 October 2003 – 15 September 2006); apostolic nuncio to Germany (since 7 December 1995); Catholic archbishop (since 6 January 1989); titular archbishop (6 January 1989 – 24 November 2007); President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State (until 2011) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043#P39))
- **Awards:** Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043#P166))

## Questions

**When was Giovanni Lajolo born?**  
Giovanni Lajolo was born on 3 January 1935 in Novara.

**What positions has Giovanni Lajolo held?**  
Positions held by Giovanni Lajolo include: cardinal (since 24 November 2007); Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See (2003–2006); apostolic nuncio to Germany (since 7 December 1995); Catholic archbishop (since 6 January 1989); titular archbishop (1989–2007).

**Where did Giovanni Lajolo study?**  
Giovanni Lajolo was educated at Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Pontifical Gregorian University, LMU Munich, Pontifical Roman Seminary.

## Related

- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Hormisdas](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-hormisdas)
- [Pope Innocent VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-viii)
- [Pope Alexander VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-viii)
- [Pope Innocent X](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-x)
- [Pope Pius XII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-xii)
- [Pope Alexander VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-vii)
- [Pope Leo XII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-leo-xii)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Giovanni Lajolo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Lajolo) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q312043](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312043) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Card. Giovanni Lajolo.jpg by Mondarte (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Card._Giovanni_Lajolo.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Giovanni Lajolo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Card. Giovanni Lajolo.jpg — Mondarte, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Giovanni Lajolo". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/giovanni-lajolo. Retrieved 6 November 2026.