Pope Benedict named Cardinal Angelo Scola's successor to the patriarchate of Venice, a historically significant archdiocese.

Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, 58, had served as bishop of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato since 2007 and was named Jan. 31 the new patriarch of Venice – a see made vacant when the pope named Scola archbishop of Milan last June.

Born in Genoa, Moraglia has a doctorate in dogmatic theology.

Venice is a major see from which three popes in the 20th century have come: Popes Pius X, John XXIII and John Paul I had all served as patriarchs of Venice.