Vatican City: In a pivotal leadership transition within one of the Church’s most influential bioethical institutions, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Msgr. Renzo Pegoraro as the new President of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The announcement, made official this week, signals a fresh phase for the Vatican’s engagement with moral theology, medical ethics, and the evolving landscape of life sciences.
Msgr. Pegoraro, a veteran scholar in bioethics and medicine, succeeds Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, who concluded his tenure upon reaching the age of 80 in April. The newly appointed President has been a central figure within the Academy for over a decade, serving as its Chancellor since 2011, and working alongside both Archbishop Paglia and former President Bishop Ignacio Carrasco de Paula.
Gracious in tone and mission-focused, Msgr. Pegoraro expressed his gratitude to the Holy Father for the appointment. "I thank Pope Leo XIV for the trust placed in me," he said in an official Academy statement. “These years have been a remarkable journey of intellectual and pastoral depth, walking hand-in-hand with some of the most visionary minds of the Church.”
A native of Padua, Italy, Msgr. Pegoraro was born on June 4, 1959, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Padua in 1989. His academic pedigree is as distinguished as his pastoral career. With a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Padua, he furthered his theological studies with a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
His career bridges the disciplines of clinical care, academic ethics, and ecclesiastical instruction. Pegoraro has served as Secretary General of the Lanza Foundation, Professor of Bioethics at the Theological Faculty of Triveneto, and since 2000, has taught Nursing Ethics at the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome—Italy’s premier Catholic pediatric institution.
From 2010 to 2013, he also chaired the European Association of Centers of Medical Ethics, lending him an international platform in shaping discourse on life issues. His prolific contributions include books and scholarly articles that reflect his dedication to integrating faith with scientific responsibility.
In appointing Msgr. Pegoraro, Pope Leo XIV emphasized continuity with the Academy’s mission as outlined by his predecessor, Pope Francis. The pontiff’s selection of a candidate deeply steeped in both theology and medical ethics demonstrates a commitment to informed, humane, and dialogical approaches to the Church's moral voice in a complex world.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Paglia received heartfelt thanks from the Pope, conveyed through a letter by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. Pope Leo XIV praised the Archbishop’s steadfast leadership since 2016—years marked by critical engagement with issues ranging from end-of-life care to artificial intelligence in healthcare.
As Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences, Archbishop Paglia had also spearheaded bold academic reforms and outreach. His contributions leave behind a legacy that has prepared the Academy for this new chapter under Msgr. Pegoraro.
With this transition, the Pontifical Academy for Life now stands poised to navigate emerging bioethical debates, from genetic engineering to digital health, grounded in a theology that champions the dignity and sanctity of life at all stages.