April 19, 1935: Born in Los Angeles
April 25, 1961: Ordained a priest in Los Angeles
October 1961-1964: Graduate studies at Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome
October 1962-1963: Priest assistant at the Second Vatican Council in Rome
Cardinal Justin Rigali, standing in front of center section, serves as a priest assistant at the Second Vatican Council.
1966-1970: Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature to Madagascar
February 1970: Director of the English section of the Secretariat of State in the Vatican
February 1970: English translator to Pope Paul VI
August 1978: Adviser to Pope John Paul I
October 1979-May 1985: Adviser and speechwriter for Pope John Paul II
June 1985: Appointed president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy and Titular Archbishop of Volsinium
Sept. 14, 1985: Episcopal consecration by Pope John Paul II
1985-1990: Served in the Secretariat of State, Council for the Public Affairs of the Church, Congregation for Bishops, Pontifical Council for the Laity, Permanent Interdicasterial Commission, Pontifical Commission for Latin America, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith within the Vatican Roman Curia
Dec. 21, 1989: Appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops by Pope John Paul II
Jan. 2, 1990: Appointed Secretary of the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II
March 15, 1994: Installed as seventh Archbishop of St. Louis by Pope John Paul II
January 1999: Archbishop Rigali hosted Pope John Paul II during papal visit to St. Louis
Oct. 21, 2003: Created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II with the rank of Cardinal-Priest
Cardinal Justin Rigali stands with St. John Paul II at the altar.
Oct. 7, 2003: Installed as eighth Archbishop of Philadelphia by Pope John Paul II
April 8, 2005: Was the only American cardinal to serve as concelebrant at the funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II
April 2005: Was a cardinal elector in conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI
September 2007: Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Congregation for Bishops
Aug. 31, 2009: Named Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Scranton, Pa.
April 19, 2010: Celebrated 75th birthday, at which time all bishops and cardinals must submit a letter of resignation to the pope, although the pope doesn’t have to accept resignation at that time. Cardinal Rigali remained eligible to vote in conclaves until he turned 80 on April 19, 2015.
Sept. 8, 2011: Became Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia and retires in the Diocese of Knoxville
March 2013: Was a cardinal elector in conclave that elected Pope Francis
April 19, 2015: Marked 80th birthday by celebrating Mass for groundbreaking of new Sacred Heart Cathedral
