The Salesian of Don Bosco, who came from southern Italy, died on New Year's Eve (Tuesday) at the age of 86, according to Vatican media reports (Wednesday).
Amato was born on 8 June 1938 into a family of shipbuilders in Molfetta (Bari province) and initially embarked on a career as a captain before deciding to join the Salesian order. He made his first religious profession in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1967.
Stations in Thessaloniki and Washington
He obtained his doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1974 and was appointed as a lecturer in this subject. He was also a scholarship holder of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Thessaloniki.
Back in Rome, he taught Christology at the Theological Faculty of the Pontifical Salesian University, where he was Dean from 1981 to 1987 and from 1994 to 1999. From 1997 to 2000, he was also Vice-Rector of this university.
After a period of study in Washington, he was appointed a consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Councils for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue and a member of the Pontifical International Marian Academy.
In 1999, he was appointed secretary of the newly structured Pontifical Academy of Theology and editor of the newly founded theological journal "Path".
John Paul II appointed him Secretary to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in December 2002 and consecrated him Bishop in January 2003.
Amato received the title of Cardinal in 2010 from Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis confirmed Amato for a second term in 2013. Shortly before his 80th birthday in 2018, the Curia cardinal resigned from this office.