Rocco Buttiglione

Italian Minister of European Affairs

Rocco Buttiglione was born on June 6, 1948 in Gallipoli (province of Lecce), Italy. He studied law in Turin and Rome, where he took his degree with a thesis in the history of political doctrines. He became an assistant to his academic advisor, Professor Augusto Del Noce and collaborated with Del Noce for many years.

His main intellectual concerns have been philosophy, social ethics, economics, and politics. He has held professorships at the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein and Saint Pius V University in Rome and has been a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Science. He has lectured internationally and is on the editorial boards of many Italian and foreign journals.

In the early 1990s, Buttiglione helped to form an Italian political party, the Christian Democratic Union and since 1994 has served in the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian Parliament. Since 1999 he has been a member of the European Parliament, and in 2001 he was appointed by Italy’s President Silvio Berlusconi to be Minister of European Affairs. He also serves on the Acton Institute's board of advisors.

He is married and the father of four daughters.

For more information on Rocco Buttiglione, please see our special Buttiglione press page.

Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
Faith and Freedom Award 2004

Mr. Rocco Buttiglione

We honor Rocco Buttiglione, Italy’s Minister for European Affairs and nominee to the European Commission here for his steadfast defense of Judeo Christian values during his contentious confirmation hearings before the European Commission. While weathering a firestorm of criticism Mr. Buttiglione maintained his steadfast support of equality before the law and the equal dignity of every individual and stood fast against the attacks of radical secularism that denies all public manifestation of religion.

In addition to his political and public life Professor Buttiglione's intellectual achievements in the areas of theology, philosophy, and social ethics are consistently contributing to the moral debate in the USA as well as Europe. With his numerous publications in several languages, as well as his distinguished teaching career, Professor Buttiglione has facilitated and fostered genuine progress in thought about the relationship between human freedom, religious faith, and the free and virtuous society.

The Acton Institute's Faith and Freedom Award recognizes Rocco Buttiglione as a person who has stood up for his beliefs and in favor of religious freedom. His case symbolizes attendant struggles in Europe and America. The award recognizes individuals who exemplify commitment to faith and freedom through leadership in civic, business, or religious life.