That's funny. I can't find any record of him ever being a priest, just a diplomat:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.esteri.it/eng/4_29_190_94_142_203.asp&prev=/search%3Fq%3DTorquato%2BCardilli%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DRNWE,RNWE:2005-01,RNWE:en
Also this:
Rome's Envoy to Saudi Arabia Converts to Islam
By Luke Baker
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's ambassador to Saudi Arabia has converted to Islam, the
second time in seven years that an envoy of Rome to the land of Mecca has
adopted its religion.
Torquato Cardilli, a career diplomat from overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Italy,
revealed his decision to Saudi newspapers Saturday, his 59th birthday. Italian
diplomatic sources confirmed the announcement Monday.
His official conversion was made on the eve of the Islamic holy fasting month
of Ramadan, which began on November 16 in Saudi Arabia. Cardilli himself could
not be reached for comment but an employee at his embassy in Riyadh confirmed
the reports.
The Saudi embassy in Rome said it planned a statement later. An embassy
spokeswoman said there was no record of any Saudi ambassador to Italy ever
converting to Catholicism.
Italy's Foreign Ministry had no comment.
The conversion of Cardilli -- who is married with two children -- follows the
move to Islam made by Mario Scialoja, Italian ambassador to the Arab kingdom in
1994-95, who has since left the foreign service and is head of Italy's Muslim
League.
Scialoja's decision came as a shock, made while he was Rome's permanent
representative to the United Nations (news - web sites) in New York and long
before he was posted to Riyadh.
Cardilli's change of faith follows years of study of Islam. A graduate in
oriental culture and languages from the University of Naples, Cardilli has
spent much of his 33-year diplomatic career in the Muslim world.
Following postings in Sudan, Syria, Iraq and Libya, he took over the embassy in
Riyadh in October last year. Cardilli has also served as ambassador to Albania
and Tanzania.
His personal move comes at a sensitive time, with Italy a member of the U.S.-
led coalition fighting the hardline Islamic Taliban movement in Afghanistan
(news - web sites) and barely two months after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
offended the Muslim world by saying Western Christian civilization was
superior .
Corriere della Sera newspaper said Cardilli had been recalled to Rome ``for
consultations.'' Some 3,000 to 5,000 Italians have converted to Islam from
Catholicism in recent years, according to figures from the Union of Islamic
Organizations and Communities. A spokesman for the Italy-based group said it
welcomed Cardilli's entry into the Muslim community, saying of his conversion:
``The ways of the Lord are infinite.''
Source: http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/social/messages/5264.html
Maybe he was a priest a long time ago, I can't find any record though... and I have a directory.
If you find it, ping me.
No, they are saying Ambassador Cardilli converted separeately from the alleged priest who converted. They never actually name the priest. This is an Arab Publication, so I would like to see more confirmation.