(1952-
Birth. June 17, 1952, Sevilla, Spain. He was the fifth of the nine children of Juan de Dios Ayuso Rubio and Natividad Guixot Visconti.
Education. Intially, he frequented Colegio San Antonio Maria Claret, spending a year in the Minor Seminary of Sevilla but his parents wanted him to graduate before he decided definitively. Thus, he inscribed himself in the Faculty of Law of the University of Sevilla. He continued attending Church and doing spiritual retreat for young people and thus he entered in contact with the reviews and the publications of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (M.C.C.J.), deciding in September 1973 to enter the religious congregation emitting his perpetual vows on May 2, 1980. He earned a licentiate in Arabic and Islamic studies at Rome's Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (PISAI) in 1982. He obtained a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the University of Granada in 2000. Besides his native Spanish, he knows Arabic, English, French and Italian.
Priesthood. Ordained, September 20, 1982, in the parish of Sevilla, by Cardinal José María Bueno y Monreal, Archbishop of Sevilla. He was a missionary in Egypt and Sudan from 1982 to 2002. Beginning in 1989, he was professor of Islamic studies, first in Khartoum, then in Cairo, and then President of PISAI from 2005 to 2012. He led interreligious discussions in Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. On November 20, 2007, he was appointed consultor of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. On June 30, 2012, he was named secretary of the Council for Interreligious Dialog. Pope Benedict XVI named him a special auditor at the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in 2010. He served as the Vatican's principal representative in restoring dialogue with Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb of Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque, which were curtailed in 2011. He reported that the parties were focused on "joint initiatives to promote peace", the right to religious education, and the issue of religious freedom, looking to an agreement that establishes "the sacrosanct right to citizenship" for all, no matter their religion. His work culminated in the joint statement, the Declaration on Human Fraternity, issued by the Grand Imam and Pope Francis in February 2019 in Abu Dhabi. He has represented the Holy See as a member of the board of directors of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), a joint initiative of Saudi Arabia, Austria and Spain, since its founding in Vienna in 2012. Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, June 30, 2012; Pope Francis confirmed his appointment as secretary on March 29, 2014.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Luperciana, January 29, 2016. Consecrated, March 19, 2016, Papal Vatican Basilica, by Pope Francis, assisted by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and by Angelo Giovanni Becciu, titular archbishop of Rusella, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. His episcopal motto is Secundum Misericriam Tuam. During the illness and after the death of Cardinal Jean-Luois Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog, he ensured continuity in the dicastery's activities. Named president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, May 25, 2019. On August 6, 2019, the Pope named him member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
Cardinalate. Created Cardinal Deacon in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the deaconry of S. Girolamo della Carità a Via Giulia in the same Consistory. On February 8, 2019, he took possession of his Deaconry. On February 21, 2020, the Pope named him member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
Webgraphy.
Photograph and biography, in
Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede;
photograph and biography, in English,
Press Office of the Holy See;
photograph, arms and biography, in Italian, Wikipedia;
Nomina
di Consultori del Pontificio Consiglio per il Dialogo Interreligioso, in English, Wikipedia;
Birth. Deember 15, 1965, Island of Madeira, Portugal. He was one of five children, spending his early years in Angola, where his father was a fisherman. But the family returned to Portugal when he was nine years old.
Education. He obtained a licentiate in theology from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon in 1989; and a licentiate in biblical sciences at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome in 1992. He obtained a doctorate in biblical theology from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon in 2004.
Priesthood. Ordained, July 28, 1990, for the diocese of Funchal, Madeira, by Bishop Teodoro de Faria, bishop of Funchal. He has served as lecturer at the diocesan seminary of Funchal; rector of the Pontifical Portuguese College in Rome; vice rector and lecturer at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon; and visiting lecturer at the Catholic Universities of Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and at the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In addition, he has served as consultor of the Pontifical Council for Culture since 2011. He preached the Lent Retreat to the Roman Curia on February 18 to 23, 2018, in Ariccia. He has published numerous volumes and articles in the fields of theology and exegesis, as well as various poetic works.
Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Suava and appointed Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, June 28, 2018. Consecrated, July 28, at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Lisbon, by Cardinal Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente, patriarch of Lisbon, assisted by Cardinal António Augusto dos Santos Marto, bishop of Leiria-Fátima, and by Teodoro de Faria, bishop emeritus of Funchal. His episcopal motto is Considerate Lilia Agri. He is a Portuguese theologian and poet who’s made a career out of engaging secular thought and who, prior to his nomination by Pope Francis as the archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, rarely was seen wearing clerical clothes, exuding a spirit of simplicity akin to the pontiff himself.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the deaconry of Santi Domenico e Sisto in that same consistory. Took possession of his deaconry on Sunday December 15, 2019. On February 21, 2020, the pope named him member of the Pontifical Council for Culture. He will receive the Dominican habit as a tertiary member of the Order of Preachers on November 14, 2020 at the Convent of St. Dominic in Lisbon. On April 30, 2022, he was named member of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.
Webgraphy.
Photograph and biography, in
Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede;
photograph and biography, in
English, Press Office of the Holy See;
photograph, arms, bibliography and biography, in English, Wikipedia;
Birth. July 9, 1950, Sedayu, Island of Java, Indonesia. His father came from a Muslim family - he was the only one baptized a Catholic; his mother came from a family that followed Javanese traditional religion, but later became a Catholic. After becoming Catholic, they were very conscientious and active in the Church. He was the seventh of ten children. One of his brothers, Ari Suitbertus Sunardi, entered the Order of Trappists in the Hermitage of Saint Mary Rawaseneng, in the city of Waterford, Central Java. Two of his sisters became nuns: Sister Christina Sri Murni, FMM, and Sister María Magdalena Marganingsih, PMY.
Education. He graduated from St. Peter Canisius Minor Seminary in Mertoyudan, Central Java in 1968. He completed his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Theology at Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta in 1971; and doctoral degree from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome, in 1981.
Priesthood. Ordained, January 29, 1976, for the archdiocese of Semarang. He joined the faculty of philosophy in Jakarta from 1981 to 1991 and headed the faculty of philosophy and sociology in Santa Dharma from 1983 to 1993. He was dean on the faculty of theology at Santa Dharma from 1993 to 1997.
Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Semarang, April 21, 1997. Consecrated, August 22, 1997, by Cardinal Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, S.J., archbishop of Jakarta, assisted by Pietro Sambi, titular archbishop of Bellicastro, nuncio to Indonesia, and by Blasius Pujoraharja, bishop of Ketapang. His episcopal motto is Serviens Domino Cum Omni Humilitate. On January 2, 2006, he was named Military Ordinary of Indonesia. Named archbishop coadjutor of the metropolitan see of Jakarta, July 25, 2009. Succeeded to the metropolitan see of Jakarta on June 28, 2010. He participated in the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme "The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith", October 7 to 28, 2012. Elected president of the Indonesian Episcopal Conference on November 15, 2012; he has been reelected for two more three-year terms. On September 13, 2014, he was named member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He participated in the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme "The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world", October 4 to 25, 2015.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella in that same consistory. On February 21, 2020, the Pope named him member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. On July 8, 2020, he was named member of the Pontifical Council for Iterreligious Dialog.
Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; photograph and biography, in English, Wikipedia; Jakarta Archdiocese welcomes new archbishop as cardinal retires, Catholic News Service, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6.30.2010 12:00 AM ET; photogramps and biography, in Spanish, INFOVATICANA, 10 diciembre, 2013; Suharyo wins third term as Indonesian bishops's chief by Katharina R. Lestari, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, November 15, 2018; Indonesian prelate's political peace call by Konradus Epa, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, April 23, 2019; Pope makes Indonesian archbishop a cardinal by Konradus Epa, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, September 2, 2019; Un cardinale nel paese dell’islam asiatico by Paolo Affatato, La Stampa, Vatican Insider, Città del Vaticano, 14 Settembre 2019; New Indonesian cardinal: Appointment recognizes country's Catholic minority by Joshua J. McElwee, National Catholic Reporter, Sep 20, 2019; New cardinal says honor for ‘Indonesian people as a whole’ by Nirmala Carvalho, Crux, Mumbai, India, Oct 7, 2019; New cardinal shares pope's wish for Indonesian Church by Konradus Epa, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, October 21, 2019; New Indonesian cardinal calls for greater national unity by Katharina R. Lestari, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, October 29, 2019; Asia/Indonesia - Il Cardinale Suharyo: "Il Papa apprezza la Pancasila", Agenzia Fides, Giacarta, martedì, 29 ottobre 2019; Cardeal Suharyo: o Papa convida à convivência; católicos indonésios estão à frente, Vatican News, Cidade do Vaticano, 15 novembro 2019, 13:50, with audio; Jakarta Archdiocese declares 2020 as Year of Social Justice by Katharina R. Lestari, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, January 6, 2020; A colloquio con il cardinale arcivescovo di Jakarta sulle prospettive del 2020. Solo il dialogo può isolare gli estremismi, Il Sismografo, L'Osservatore Romano, martedì 7 gennaio 2020; Cardinal asks Catholics to pray for Indonesia as virus spreads by Katharina R. Lestari, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, March 19, 2020; Indonesian cardinal blames virus on ecological sin by Katharina R. Lestari, UCA News, Jakarta, Indonesia, April 13, 2020; Indonesia kicks off Laudato Si’ Week by Katharina Reny Lestari, UCA News, Jakarta, May 18, 2020 12:42 PM BKK; Jakarta churches remain shut as Covid-19 lockdown eases, by Katharina Reny Lestari, UCA News, Jakarta, June 15, 2020 08:03 AM GMT; Jakarta cardinal to sit on Vatican interfaith body by Katharina Reny Lestari, UCA News, July 10, 2020 7:11 AM GMT; Cardenales piden justicia por crímenes del gobierno chino contra minoría musulmana, ACI Prensa, 10 de agosto de 2020 9:36; Cardinale di Jakarta: tutti i luoghi di preghiera siano ‘Covid-free’ by Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta, Asia News, 29/08/2020, 10.57; Indonesian cardinal urges 'right choices' during Lent by Robin Gomes, Vatican News, 16 February 2021, 17:01; Asia - I Cardinali asiatici: solidarietà al Myanmar, appello per la pace e la democrazia, Agenzia Fides, Manila, mercoledì, 24 marzo 2021; Indonesia’s cardinal praises national response to suicide bombing by Nirmala Carvalho, Crux, Munbai, India, Mar 30, 2021; Indonesian cardinal delivers unity message on Pancasila Day by Konradus Epa, UCA News, Jakarta, June 02, 2021 07:24 AM GMT.
Birth. July 11, 1948, Camagüey, Cuba. From a family of modest means. He was the first of six children. His mother was a housewife and his father, who died in prison from a heart attack, worked in the railways.
Education. As a teenager he entered the Seminary "San Basilio Magno" in El Cobre. For a year he attended the "El Buen Pastor Seminary" in La Habana; and then completed the theological studies in San Carlos y San Ambrosio Seminary, also in La Habana. He was a member of the first group of Cuban priests to be trained entirely in Cuba.
Priesthood. Ordained, January 25, 1972, in the parish church of Morón, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, diocese of Ciego de Avila, by Adolfo Rodríguez Herrera, bishop of Camagüey. Despite the checks of the Castro regime that forbade priests to preach outside the walls of churches, "Father Juanito" - as he was familiarly called - passed house by house in the villages to distribute leaflets written always with the aim to reaffirm Christian principles. Exercised his priestly ministry in the parish of Morón; and in that of Ciego de Avila. Pastor of the parish of Jatibonico and also of Morón. Vicar for the pastoral of the then Vicariate of Ciego-Morón. In 1989, he was named pastor of Florida taking care of other nearby communities at the same time. He was co-author of the popular devotional Los cubanos rezamos a Dios. He was the founder of and director of the School of Missionaries of the diocese of Camagüey. He worked to establish prison ministries in the late 1980s after the government gave Catholic pastoral workers permission to visit inmates.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Gummi di Proconsolare and appointed auxiliary of Camagüey, March 15, 1997. Consecrated, June 7, 1997, church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, Camagüey, by Adolfo Rodríguez Herrera, bishop of Camagüey, assisted by Mario Eusebio Mestril Vega, bishop of Ciego de Ávila, and by Emilio Aranguren Echeverría, bishop of Cienfuegos. His episcopal motto is Ve y anuncia el Evangelio. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Camagüey on June 10, 2002. Throughout his fourteen years as pastor of the Camaguey church, he completed several works initiated by his predecessor, such as the operation of the San Agustin Seminary to receive young people with a priestly vocation and attend them in their first years of formation; that of a small farm that supported the self-consumption of the Diocesan House or the dining room at the service of those in need. He was part of the first group of pilgrims who made the "The Route of the Virgin" from Cayo Morales - Bay of Nipe (Mayarí) to the Basilica of El Cobre, on the occasion of the Preparatory Triennium to the Marian Jubilee for the Fourth Centenary of the Finding of the image of the Virgin of Charity. He maintained the “Sister Churches” link between the Archdiocese of Camagüey and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and carried out, until almost its completion, the Nursing Home of the Archdiocese of Camagüey. President of the Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Cuba. On February 24, 2007, he was named member of the Pontifical Council Iustitia et Pax. Participated in the Fifth General Assembly of Latin American and Caribbean Episcopate celebrated in Aparecida, Brazil, in May 2007. As Archbishop of Camagüey, on November 29, 2008, he welcomed Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, for the beatification of José Olallo Valdés, the Fatebenefratelli religious - the first Cuban to be proclaimed blessed on the Island - who in the nineteenth century devoted his whole life to helping the poor, the slaves and the dispossessed. And he also started the process for the beatification of his predecessor at the head of the archdiocese, the servant God Archbishop Adolfo Rodríguez Herrera. Participated in Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, celebrated at the Vatican in 2014. In the fourteen years he spent as Archbishop of Camagüey he re-launched, among other things, the San Agustín Seminary and took up and developed numerous works at the service of the poorest. Transferred to the metropolitan see of San Cristóbal de La Habana on April 26, 2016. He took possession of the see on May 22, 2016. Member of the Standing Committee of the Cuban Bishops' Conference and president of the National Commission for Mission and Family. He presided in the cathedral of the Cuban capital the funeral of his predecessor, Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino - who died last July 26th - remembering him in particular as a "faithful pastor" and a "bridge builder".
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of Santi Aquila e Priscilla in that same consistory. On February 21, 2020, the pope named him member of the Congregation for the Clergy. On April 20, 2020, the pope named him member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. After the resignation of Manuel Hilario de Céspedes y García Menocal, bishop of Matanzas, he was appointed apostolic administrator of that diocese on March 22, 2022.
Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; biography, in Spanish, Wikipedia; Rinuncia dell'Arcivescovo di Camagüey (Cuba) e Nomina del Successore, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede, 10.06.2002; Rinuncia dell’Arcivescovo Metropolita di San Cristóbal de La Habana (Cuba) e nomina del nuovo Arcivescovo Metropolita, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede, 26.04.2016; Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, arzobispo de La Habana (Camagüey, 1948), 14ymedio.com, La Habana | Diciembre 28, 2016; La eficacia de lo pequeño by Sergio Lázaro Cabarrouy Fernández-Fontecha, Arquidiócesis de La Habana, La Habana, 1ro. de septiembre de 2019; Papa Francisco nombra nuevo cardenal en Cuba, Gramma/Prensa Latina, 2 de septiembre de 2019 14:09:39; Futuro cardeal García Rodríguez: a alegria dos bispos cubanos, Vatican News, Cidade do Vaticano, 02 setembro 2019, 16:41; Obispos de Cuba agradecen al Papa Francisco por crear cardenal a Mons. García, ACI Prensa, 2 de septiembre de 2019 9:43 pm; Arzobispo de La Habana: “Gracias al Papa por fijarse en la Iglesia de Cuba” by Mireia Bonilla, Vatican News, Ciudad del Vaticano, 04 septiembre 2019, 13:31, with audio; Unassuming pastor who helped rebuild Cuban church will receive red hat by Carol Glatz, The Boston Pilot, CNA, Vatican City, 9/10/2019; Misión, servicio y oración: rasgos del nuevo Cardenal, Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Cuba (COCC), La Habana, 28 de septiembre de 2019; Juan García Rodríguez, ejemplo de sencillez y cercanía a los más necesitados by Larissa I. López, Zenit, octubre 05, 2019 13:24; Alegría fraterna por el nuevo Cardenal by Araceli Cantero Guibert, Servicio de Noticias de la Iglesia Católica en Cuba, Roma Italia, 5 de octubre de 2019; Misión y misericordia en la estampa recordatorio del Cardenal Juan García por Equipo de Comunicación de la COCC, Roma, 10 de octubre de 2019; Cardenal Juan: “Dios lo regala todo” by Sergio Lázaro Cabarrouy Fernández-Fontecha, Arquidiócesis de La Habana, La Habana, 20 de octubre de 2019; Cardenal Juan García preside Misa en la Asamblea de Misiones en Matanzas by Briandy García y Alejandro Mayo, Diócesis de Matanzas, Catedral de Matanzas, 22 de octubre de 2019; Visita el Cardenal Juan de la Caridad García la diócesis más occidental de Cuba by Tania Gómez Rodríguez, Diócesis de Pinar del Río, Catedral de San Rosendo, 13 de noviembre de 2019; Evoca la Iglesia Misa fundacional de La Habana by Yarelis Rico Hernández, Arquidiócesis de La Habana, El Templete, 17 de noviembre de 2019; Desde el Cristo de La Habana es bendecida la ciudad by Yarelis Rico Hernández, Arquidiócesis de La Habana, La Habana, 17 de noviembre de 2019; a href="https://iglesiacubana.org/cocc/pages/articles/1203">Cardenal cubano visita a la comunidad de Colón, en Matanzas by Hermanas Misioneras de la Inmaculada Concepción, Diócesis de Matanzas, Colón, 12 de diciembre de 2019; “Jesús, María y José, ayúdennos a constituir una bella familia y cantar con los ángeles de Belén: ´Gloria a Dios en el cielo y en mi casa paz´” por Mons. Juan García Rodríguez, 20 de diciembre del 2019; America/Cuba - "Dignità e libertà valgono le nostre preghiere con tutte le forze": l'arcidiocesi dell'Avana dinanzi all'emergenza sanitaria, Agenzia Fides, L'Avana, lunedì, 18 maggio 2020; Cardenal de Cuba Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez visita a paciente con Covid-19, Periódico Cubano, 15 septiembre, 2020; Cardenal Juan García visitó la parroquia de Chambas, Diócesis de Ciego de Ávila, 25 de abril de 2022; Visitó el cardenal Juan García comunidades de Majagua y Jatibonico, Diócesis de Ciego de Ávila, 26 de abril de 2022; El cardenal Juan García visitó la parroquia de Violeta, Diócesis de Ciego de Ávila, 27 de abril de 2022; Cardenal Juan García visitó las parroquias de Morón y Pina, Diócesis de Ciego de Ávila, 28 de abril de 2022; Arzobispo de La Habana oficia misa por víctimas del Saratoga en cementerio de Colón, CiberCuba, 15/05/2022 - 5:28pm (GMT-4).
Birth. January 24, 1960, Boto, diocese of Molegbe, province of North-Ubangi, Democratic Republic of Congo. His father worked on a rubber and coffee plantation in Boto, in the province of Equateur. He was head of the section of the tappers, those who tap the rubber tree to collect its sap. He had five brothers and five sisters.
Education. Studied philosophy at the Seminary of Bwamanda and theology at the Institute "Saint-Eugène de Mazenod" of Kinshasa. Joined the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchins and pronounced his first vows in 1981; and his perpetual vows in 1987.
Priesthood. Ordained, August 14, 1988. After his ordination, he did his doctoral studies in moral theology at the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome. Parish priest in Bobito (1988-1989); professor in the Catholic University of Kinshasa; major superior, vice-provincial of the Capuchin Fathers of the Vice-Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo; National President of the Assembly of Major Superiors (ASUMA) and of the Circumscription of Friars Minor Capuchin in Africa (CONCAU).
Episcopate. Elected bishop of Bokungu-Ikela on November 22, 2004. Consecrated, March 6, 2005, by Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba, archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro, assisted by Giovanni d’Aniello, titular archbishop of Pesto, apostolic nuncio to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and by Cardinal Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M., archbishop of Kinshasa. His episcopal motto is Les grâces du Seigneur sont avec nous. In 2008, he was named apostolic administrator of the diocese of Kole; a post he occupied until August 9, 2015. At the same time he was president of the Episcopal Commission Iustitia et Pax and of the Episcopal Commission for Natural Resources. On March 6, 2016, he was appointed apostolic administrator of Mbandaka-Bikoro. Named archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro on November 12, 2016. In June 2017, he was elected vice-president of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, CENCO. On February 6, 2018, he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of the archdiocese of Kinshasa. On November 1, 2018, he succeeded to the see of Kinshasa. He started his pastoral ministry in Kinshasa on November 25, 2018.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of San Gabriele Arcangelo all’Acqua Traversa in that same consistory. On February 21, 2020, the Pope named him member of the Congregation of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life. On October 15, 2020, he was named member of the Council of Cardinals. Named apostolic administrator of the diocese of Kisantu, November 2020.
Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; biography, in English, Wikipedia; Rinuncia e successione dell’Arcivescovo di Kinshasa (Repubblica Democratica del Congo), Sala stampa della Santa Sede, 01.11.2018; Rd Congo : Mgr Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, nouvel archevêque de Kinshasa, Vatican News, 01 novembre 2018, 18:06, with audio; ‘Power is a service’ Congo archbishop tells candidates, Catholic News Agency, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nov 26, 2018 / 03:20 pm; Inauguration du ministère épiscopal de Mgr Ambongo dans l’archidiocèse de Kinshasa by Jean-Paul Kamba, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 26 novembre 2018, 17:31; En RDC, « l’Église accompagne l’espérance du peuple » by Agnès Pinard Legry, Aleteia, 23 mars 2019; Cardinal-elect Besungu: recognition of their work to give voice to the suffering people by Robin Gomes, Vatican News, 02 September 2019, 16:34; Mgr Ambongo, futur cardinal, ému et reconnaissant, entretien réalisé par Delphine Allaire, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 05 octobre 2019, 08:44, with audio; Sights and Sounds of Rome: Encounters with three new Princes of the Church by John L. Allen Jr., Crux, Rome, Oct 5, 2019; Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap: Bringing together people of the DRC by Paul Samasumo, Vatican News, Vatican City, 07 October 2019, 15:35; Synode : Amazonie et Bassin du Congo, même combat, selon le Cardinal Ambongo by Jean-Pierre Bodjoko, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 22 octobre 2019, 18:11, with audio; RD Congo : le Cardinal Ambongo devant la presse congolaise by Camille Mukoso, SJ and Jean-Baptiste Malenge, OMI, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 14 novembre 2019, 18:14; DRC: Cardinal Ambongo explains his role as Cardinal at a press conference by Camille Mukoso SJ and Jean-Baptiste Malenge, OMI, Vatican News, Vatican City, 15 November 2019, 15:37; A la fin de son séjour dans l’Est, le Cardinal Ambongo tranche : “le risque de balkanisation est bien réel” by Claude Sengenya, Actualité.cd, Butembo, Lundi 30 décembre 2019 - 11:28; Au diocèse de Butembo-Beni, le Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo rend hommage aux prêtres enlevés>, diacenco.com, 30 décembre 2019 12:45; DR Congo cleric says migrant influx inflaming eastern region, AFP, Yahoo news, Kinshasa, January 3, 2020; Africa/RDC - Il Cardinale Fridolin Ambongo denuncia un piano di balcanizzazione della Repubblica Democratica del Congo, Agenzia Fides, Kinshasa, martedì, 7 gennaio 2020; RD Congo : Le Cardinal Ambongo à la tête du Fonds national de solidarité contre le Covid-19 by Camille Mukoso, SJ wiht Jean-Baptiste Malenge, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 23 avril 2020, 20:21; RD Congo : Pour les 60 ans d’indépendance, le Cardinal Ambongo tonne by Jean-Pierre Bodjoko, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 01 juillet 2020, 00:38 (Texte intégral de l’homélie du Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo; RDC : le coup de semonce du cardinal Ambongo à l’égard des politiques by Agnès Pinard Legry, Aleteia, 02 juillet 2020; Cardinal Ambongo : Un pasteur plus que révolté face à la souffrance de son peuple by Jean-Pierre Bodjoko, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 02 juillet 2020, 00:42, with audio; Kinshasa – Reprise des cultes : Le cardinal Ambongo a donné le go à la cathédrale Notre Dame du Congo, L'Interview.cd, 15 août 2020; Ecoles conventionnées catholiques : réprobations contre la décision du Cardinal Ambongo, Radio Okapi, 10/10/2020 - 09:29; Consejo de Cardenales: El cardenal Ambomgo Besungu, nuevo miembro by Anne Kurian-Montabone, Zenit, octubre 15, 2020 14:05; DRC’s Cardinal Besungu appointed to Council of Cardinals, Vatican News, 15 October 2020, 14:42; En RD-Congo, le cardinal Ambongo, dans le sillage du cardinal Monsengwo, La Croix Africa, 16 octobre 2020; Cardinal Ambongo : « un sentiment de joie et d’un peu de crainte pour ma nomination au Conseil des cardinaux » by Jean-Pierre Bodjoko, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 16 octobre 2020, 21:32, with audio; Le cardinal Abongo ou le bon samaritain, Aleteia, 17/10/20; Kongolesischer Kardinal: „Franziskus hat mich überrascht“ by Mario Galgano and Jean-Pierre Bodjoko SJ, Vatican News, Vatikanstadt, 23 Oktober 2020, 10:51, with audio; Sur décision du Pape, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo va désormais gérer deux diocèses: Kinshasa et Kisantu, Actualité.cd, Dimanche 22 novembre 2020 - 11:03; RD Congo : le cardinal Ambongo demande aux choristes de veiller à la foi catholique, Service français-Afrique (avec Jean Baptiste Malenge, OMI), Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 25 novembre 2020, 10:41; Meet the Capuchin who is Pope Francis' top African advisor by Lucie Sarr, La Croix International, December 16, 2020; RD Congo : l’Université Loyola des Jésuites a reçu la visite du Cardinal Ambongo by Jean-Pierre Bodjoko, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 09 janvier 2021, 20:52; Ambongo au sujet de la formation du gouvernement : « il faut des gens qui ont la compétence et qui vont donner espoir au peuple », Actualité.cd, 2021/03/09; Kinshasa : le Cardinal Ambongo mobilise la Banque mondiale pour endiguer les érosions à Kimwenza, Radio Okapi, Kinshasa, 25/03/2021 - 08:06; RD Congo : le Cardinal Ambongo réconforte la « périphérie » de Kinshasa by Camille Mukoso, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 25 mars 2021, 21:12; Congo: l'Arcivescovo di Kinshasa incontra i politici, Famiglia Cristiana, 28/03/2021; RD Congo : le Cardinal Ambongo réconforte la « périphérie » de Kinshasa by Camille Mukoso, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 25 mars 2021, 21:12; Cardinal Ambongo : « Nous soutenons la gratuité qui bénéficie à tout le monde », Radio Okapi, mer, 12/05/2021 - 07:36; RD-Congo: le diocèse de Kinshasa crée son université, La Croix Africa, 17 mai 2021; RDC : le Cardinal Ambongo opposé à la proposition de la loi sur la nationalité congolaise, Radio Okapi, 10/07/2021 - 14:10; Cardinal in DRC against Bill Restricting Presidency to People with Both Congolese Parents by Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa, Kinshasa, 12 July, 2021 / 5:49 pm; Homélie du cardinal Ambongo pour la messe d’hommage national au cardinal Monsengwo, La Croix Afrique, 21 juillet 2021; Kinshasa : la résidence du Cardinal Ambongo visée par des « assaillants », Radio Okapi, 01/08/2021 - 22:14; DR Congo: Vandals target residence of Kinshasa’s Archbishop by Lisa Zengarini, Vatican News, 03 August 2021, 16:01; RD Congo: le pardon du Cardinal Ambongo aux auteurs de menaces by Camille Mukoso, SJ, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 11 août 2021, 13:19; DRC: Cardinal Ambongo forgives persons who stormed residence by Camille Mukoso, SJ and Vatican News English Africa Service, Vatican News, 12 August 2021, 18:57; La situation socio-politique de la RDC au cœur des échanges entre Fridolin Ambongo et Sassou Nguesso, DiaspoRDC, 30 octobre 2021; RD-Congo: Le cardinal Ambongo a reçu les chefs de plusieurs institutions étatiques, La Croix Africa, 26 novembre 2021; Cardinal clashes with Dominicans over a parish in Kinshasa by Prisca Materanya, La Croix International, February 21, 2022; Visite prochaine du Pape en RDC: le Cardinal Ambongo parle d’un “don inestimable” au pays et au peuple congolais, Actualité.cd, Jeudi 3 mars 2022 - 12:49; RDC: « Jésus n’a jamais été au centre du village, il n’a jamais été neutre devant l’injustice », Actualié cd, Dimanche 15 mai 2022 - 14:34; Arrivée du Pape: Pour le Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, la visite du Pape n’a rien à voir avec le pouvoir en place, mediacongo.net, 16.05.2022; RD Congo:le cardinal Ambongo encourage les catéchistes dans leur apostolat by Marie José Muando (Cité du Vatican) and Jean Baptiste Malenge (Kinshasa), Vatican News, 21 mai 2022, 17:08; ,strong>RDC : une chanson dénommée « Karibu Saint Père » officiellement présentée au Cardinal Ambongo en prévision de la visite du Pape, Actualité.cd, Jeudi 26 mai 2022 - 19:08; RDC : Le Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo étonné par la passivité des congolais malgré « la misère », politico, Kinshasa, 4 juin 2022 à 11:47.
Birth. August 9, 1958, in Differdange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. His mother is Marie Anne Höllerich-Wester. He spent his childhood in Vianden, where his family resided.
Education. After his secondary studies in the Classical Lyceum of Diekirch, he began his formation in the diocesan priesthood in Rome, where he stayed at the Pontifical German-Hungarian College and studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1981, he joined the Society of Jesus and followed the Jesuit training in the Province of Southern Belgium and Luxembourg. After the novitiate in Namur and two years of pastoral training in Luxembourg (1983-1985), he left for Japan where he studied the Japanese language and culture and resumed his study of theology at Sophia University in Tokyo (1985-1989). He finished theology in Frankfurt (Germany) with a license. Then, he spent four years studying German language and literature at the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität in Münich, which he completed with a license in 1994 discussing the thesis Das Konstantinopolitanische Glaubensbekenntnis. Eine Textuntersuchung ("The Constantinopolitan Creed. A textual investigation").
Priesthood. Ordained, April 21, 1990, in Bruxelles, for the Society of Jesus. After his ordination, he completed his studies in German language and literature at the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität in Munich, where he obtained license (1990-1994). He held the following positions: pastoral training at the Jeunesse étudiante Chrétienne in Luxembourg and at the Communautés Vie Chrétienne; teacher in the French Vauban Lyceum of Luxembourg (1983-1985); spiritual guide for seminarians during the preparatory year for the Luxembourg Major Seminary and head of the vocation ministry (1990-1994). Since 1994, he has been a member of the Catholic student fraternity, AV Edo-Rhenania zu Tokio and of A. V. Rheinstein Köln. From 1994, he taught German and French languages, and European studies at Sophia University in Tokyo; and from 1999, he was chaplain of the students of the same University. Also since 2008, he was rector of the Jesuit community at Sophia University and vice-rector of the same University for General Affairs and students. He was also delegate of the Japanese Episcopal Conference for the preparation and participation in the World Youth Day in Cologne in 2005.
Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Luxembourg on July 12, 2011. Consecrated, October 16, 2011, metropolitan cathedral of Luxembourg, by Fernand Franck, qrchbishop emeritus of Luxembourg, assisted by Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, and by Cardinal Peter Takeo Okada, archbishop of Tōkyō. His episcopal motto is Annunciate. He was President of the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions from 2014 to 2018; and became President of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Europe's Commission for Youth in 2017. He is one of the founders of the Catholic Scouts of Europe in Luxembourg. He participated in the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, at Vatican City, October 4 to 25, 2015, on the theme "The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world". In March 2018, he was elected president of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). He participated in the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, "The Youth, Faith and the Vocational Discernment", at Vatican City, October 3 to 28, 2018; by papal apointment. He is considered a strong progressive and reliable supporter of Pope Francis among the European bishops. Among other things, he has taken strong positions in favor of lay empowerment and penned a memorable article in the Jesuit-edited journal Civiltà Cattolica opposing populist nationalism.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of San Giovanni Crisostomo a Monte Sacro Alto in that same consistory. He is the first Cardinal from Luxembourg. Took possession of his Title on Sunday February 16, 2020 at 11 a.m. On February 21, 2020, he was named member of the Pontifical Council for Culture. On July 8, 2020, he was named member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog. On July 8, 2021, the pope named him relator general of the 16th General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. On Septembre 26, 2021 he was named one of the two videpresidents of the European Episcopal Conferences (Ccee). Named member of the Congregation for Catholic Education on September 29, 2021.
Webgraphy.
Photograph and biography, in Italian,
Sala Stampa della Santa Sede;
photograph and biography, in
English, Press Office of the Holy See;
his photograph and biography, in
French, Service Communication et Presse, Archevêché de Luxembourg;
his photograph, arms and biography, in English, Wikipedia;
Birth. July 16, 1947, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala. He is the eldest of the four children of Ernesto Ramazzini and Delia Imeri, of Italian origin, who emigrated from Lombardy, Italy.
Education. Secondary studies in the Minor Conciliar Seminary of Santiago in Guatemala City (1960-1964); then, studied philosophy (1965-1966) and the first three years of theology (1967-1969) in the Major Seminary of Guatemala, completing the fourth year of theology in the Major Seminary of Mérida, Yucatán, México. He later obtained a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
Priesthood. Ordained, June 27, 1971, by Cardinal Mario Casariego y Acevedo, C.R.S., archbishop of Guatemala, for the archdiocese of Guatemala. Professor and rector of the National Major Seminary of Guatemala. Pastor of one of the largest parishes of the archdiocese of Guatemala.
Episcopate. Elected bishop of San Marcos, December 15, 1988. Consecrated, January 6, 1989, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Edward Idris Cassidy, titular archbishop of Amantia, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and by José Tomás Sánchez, archbishop emeritus of Nueva Segovia, Philippines, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. His episcopal motto is ¡Ay De Mi Si No Evangelizo!. He has held many posts in the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala - of which he was President from 2006 to 2008 - and currently chairs the Commission for Social Communications and the Commission for Penitentiary Pastoral Care. He participated in the Episcopal Conference for Latin America (CELAM) Assembly in Aparecida, Brazil, in 2007; and in the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops in 1997. On May 14, 2012, he was transferred to the diocese of Huehuetenango. He has been a public advocate for justice, particularly among the country's indigenous population. That population, especially in the area of Huehuetenango, had been marginalized, tortured and targeted for killing in massive numbers during the short regime of Efraín Ríos Montt in the early 1980s. He is a human rights defender whose support for environmental activists has earned him death threats.
Cardinalate. Created Cardinal priest in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of San Giovanni Evangelista a Spinaceto in that same consistory. On February 21, 2020, the pope named him member of the Dicastery for the Lay, Family and Life. On April 20, 2020, the Pope named him member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. On October 10, 2021, he took possesion of the title of San Giovanni Evangelista a Spinaceto, Via Raffaele Aversa, 44, Rome.
Webgraphy Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; biography, in Spanish, Wikipedia; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; A church that requires a different kind of bishop by Tom Roberts, National Catholic Reporter, Sep 7, 2013; Cardinal-elect was a Francis bishop before Francis by Tom Roberts, National Catholic Reporter, Sep 3, 2019; “Sarò la voce del Guatemala”: intervista a mons. Ramazzini Imeri, il vescovo di frontiera che sarà cardinale by Bruno Desidera, Servizio Informazione Religiosa, 3 settembre 2019; “Ser cardenal es también un trabajo político en el sentido amplio de la palabra” Monseñor Álvaro Ramazzini by Cindy Espina, Guatemala, elPeriódico, 03-09-19; Pauvres et migrants au Guatemala, les priorités du futur cardinal Ramazzini by Griselda Mutual, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 03 septembre 2019, 18:19; Reporter's notebook: Tracking Bishop Ramazzini over the years by Mary Jo McConahay, National Catholic Reporter, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Sep 30, 2019; Cardinal-designate has defended indigenous people, migrants for decades by Mary Jo McConahay, National Catholic Reporter, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Sep 30, 2019; Fotogalería: Monseñor Ramazzini, el cardenal guatemalteco by Antonio Jiménez, Prensa Libre, 5 de octubre de 2019 a las 17:10h; Álvaro Ramazzini Imeri, un “obispo de frontera” by Larisa I. López, Zenit, octubre 05, 2019 19:42; Cardenal Álvaro Ramazzini visitará albergues de Migrantes en EEUU by Evelyn De León, soy502, 11 de diciembre de 2019, 19:42; Guatemalan cardinal brings message of hope to families caught in Mississippi ICE raids by Alissa Zhu, Mississippi Clarion Ledger, Dec. 21, 2019, 10:41 a.m. CT; Ramazzini sobre caravanas: evidencian las causas que los impulsa a migrar by Grecia Ortíz, Diario La Hora, 24 enero, 2020; Cardenal Ramazzini: “Sean responsables y no estén organizando celebraciones de la palabra” by Alex Fernando Rojas, Prensa Libre, Publicado el 2 de agosto de 2020 a las 12:08h; Cardenal Álvaro Ramazzini habla sobre la corrupción en Guatemala y hace llamado a la fiscal general by Oscar García, Prensa Libre, 13 de agosto de 2020 a las 15:08h; Rammazzini reitera: “tengo sencillamente la intención de decir la verdad tal como yo la entiendo” by Grecia Ortiz, La Hora, 15 agosto, 2020, with video; Cardenal Álvaro Ramazzini: “La pobreza es una forma de violencia estructural” by Sergio Morales Rodas, Prensa Libre, 8 de febrero de 2021 a las 5:02h; America/Guatemala - Il Cardinale Ramazzini: conciliare il rispetto delle leggi di ogni paese e il diritto alla migrazione Agenzia Fides, Città del Guatemala, martedì, 9 febbraio 2021; Cardenal Álvaro Ramazzini dice que Guatemala tocó fondo con la muerte de Sharon Figueroa by César Pérez Marroquín, Guatevisión, 12 febrero, 2021 - 20:30 PM; Coronavirus Covid-19: Guatemala, appello del card. Ramazzini. “Accesso ai vaccini con equità e prontezza”, Servizo Informazione Religiosa, 22 marzo 2021 @ 10:44; Cardenal Álvaro Ramazzini: “No queremos ser cómplices del aumento de contagios en Guatemala” by José Luis Celada, Vida Nueva Digital, 30/03/2021; Guatemala, cardinale Ramazzini: Paese non libero dalla malattia della corruzione by Amedeo Lomonaco and Giancarlo la Vella, Vatican News, Città del Vaticano, 30 luglio 2021, 15:19, with audio; “Es falso, yo siempre he estado con el pueblo”, asegura cardenal Ramazzini by Sandy Pineda, publinews, lunes 16 de agosto de 2021 7:13 PM; Il cardinale Ramazzini Imeri ha preso possesso del titolo di San Giovanni Evangelista a Spinaceto, L'Osservatore Romano, 11 ottobre 2021; Reflections on three unlikely cardinals: McElroy, Ramazzini and Rosa Chávez by Tom Roberts, National Catholic Reporter, Jun 2, 2022; Cardenal Ramazzini y ciudadanos se solidarizan con el juez Gálvez; denuncian a una CSJ “de facto” by Regina Pérez, Pensa Comunitaria, junio 21, 2022 1:05 pm.
Birth. October 11, 1955, Rome, Italy. He is the fifth of six children. Great-grand nephew of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri (1958).
Education. In 1973, a student at the Virgilio high school, he met Andrea Riccardi, the founder of Sant'Egidio, starting to attend the Community and collaborating in the activities at the service of the least promoted by it: from popular schools for marginalized children in the Roman slums, to initiatives for the lonely and the non self-sufficient elderly; for immigrants and the homeless; for the terminally ill and nomads; for the disabled and drug addicts; for prisoners and victims of conflict; from ecumenical ones for unity among Christians to those for interreligious dialogue, which materialized in the Assisi meetings. At the age of twenty-two, after graduating in Literature and Philosophy at La Sapienza University, with a thesis on the History of Christianity, he entered the seminary of the suburbicarian diocese of Palestrina, following the preparation courses for the priesthood at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, where he obtained the bachelor's degree in theology. Then, he obtained a doctorate in letters and philosophy at the University of Rome with a thesis in History of Christianity.
Priesthood. Ordained, May 9, 1981, in the cathedral of Sant'Agapito of Palestrina, by Renato Spallanzani, bishop of Palestrina. Incardinated in the diocese of Rome, November 15, 1988. Rector of the church of Santa Croce alla Lungara from 1983 to 2012. He participated with several members of the Community of Sant'Egidio in negotiations that helped end the civil war in Mozambique in 1992 and was made an honorary citizen of that country. Member of the Presbyteral Council from 1995 to 2012; vice-pastor of Santa Maria in Trastevere from 1981 to 2000; from 2000 to 2010 he was the pastor. From 2005 to 2010 he was prefect of the III Prefecture of Rome; from 2000 to 2012, he was general ecclesiastical assistant of the Comunity of Sant'Egidio. From the center of Rome he was later transferred to the immense Roman periphery in 2012, in Torre Angela in the parish of Santi Simone e Giuda Taddeo, one of the most populated parishes of the diocese of Rome. From 2011 to 2012 he has also been prefect of the XVII Prefecture of Rome. He is the author of some publications on pastoral themes. Named chaplain of His Holiness in 2006.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Villanova and appointed auxiliary of Rome, January 31, 2012. Consecrated, April 14, 2012, by Cardianl Agostino Vallini, vicar of Rome, assisted by Giovanni Battista Pichierri, archbishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, and by Vincenzo Paglia, bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia. His episcopal motto is Gaudium Domini Fortitudo Vestra. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Bologna, October 27, 2015. Made the solemn entrance in the archdiocese on December 12, 2015. He is a strong advocate for immigrants and the poor. He wrote a forward to Jesuit Father James Martin's book, Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. Gran prior of the Order of The Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in the region of Emilia-Romaga. President of the Episcopal Conference of Emilia Romagna from 2016.
Cardinalate. Created Cardinal priest in the Consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of Sant'Egidio in that same Consistory. He took possession of his Title on Saturday January 11, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. On February 21, 2020, the Pope named him member of the Dicastery for the Service of the Integral Human Development. On April 18, the Pope named him member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See. On May 24, 2022, the pope named him president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
Webgraphy.
Photograph and biography, in Italian,
Sala Stampa della Santa Sede;
photograph and biography, in English,
Press Office of the Holy See;
photograph and biography, in Italian, archdiocese of Bologna;
photograph, arms and biography, in Italian, Wikipedia;
his arms, archdiocese of Bologna;
Birth. May 19, 1952, Vélez-Rubio, diocese of Almería, Spain.
Education. Joined the Congregation of Saint Francis of Sales of Saint John Bosco (Salesians) in 1964. He studied at the Salesian Seminaries of Gerona and Barcelona, studying philosophy from 1973 to 1975 and theology from 1975 to 1979. He earned a licenciate in Information Sciences, Journalism section, at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 1982. He took his first vows as a Salesian on August 16, 1968 and made his solemn profession on August 2, 1974.
Priesthood. Ordained, May 19, 1979. After his priestly ordination he held the following positions from 1979 to 1984, Minister for the marginalized in La Verneda, in Barcelona; 1984-1986: Youth Ministry in the Salesian Colegio of Asunción, Paraguay; 1986-1992: provincial delegate for vocational youth ministry in Asunción; 1991-1992: Director of the Salesian Bulletin in Asunción; 1992-1994: parish priest in Asunción; 1994-2000: provincial of the Salesian province of Paraguay; 2000-2002: director of the community, of the pastoral and teacher in the Colegio of Asunción; 2002-2003: ministry in the missions in Paraguay; 2003-2011: director of the community, of parish and scholastic pastoral care in the vocational training center in Kénitra, Morocco; 2011-2014: provincial of the Salesian province of Bolivia; from 2014: provincial of the Salesian province of María Auxiliadora in Spain.
Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Rabat, December 29, 2017. Consecrated, by Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, archbishop of Barcelona, assisted by Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M., archbishop emeritus of Sevilla and by Vito Rallo, titular archbishop of Alba, apostolic nuncio to Morocco. His episcopal motto is Adveniat regnum Tuum. On May 24, 2019, he was named apostolic administrator of the archdiocese of Tangier.
Cardinalate. Created Cardinal priest in the Consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of San Leone I in that same Consistory. Although a Spaniard by birth, he became a Paraguayan citizen and is happily claimed by Paraguay as its first cardinal. He sees his appointment as a nod to the Kingdom of Morocco, which, he says, has done much to foster moderate Islam. He is the first Cardinal from Morocco. Took possession of his title on Sunday February 16, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. On February 21, 2020, the pope named him member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog. On June 1, 2022, the pope named him member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Webpgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; his arms and biography, in English, Wikipedia; Morocco - Ordination of Archbishop of Rabat, Msgr. Cristóbal López, SDB: "The principle service ... is the service of love", Agenzia Info salesiana (ANS), 12 March 2018; Morocco: Archbishop Describes a ‘Samaritan’ Church by María Lozano, Zenit, March 27, 2019 16:43; Entrevista al neocardenal Cristóbal López: «Mi nombramiento es un impulso al diálogo con el islam» by Ricardo Benjumea, Alfa y Omega, Semanario Católico de Información, 02 de Septiembre de 2019; Cristóbal López, arzobispo de Rabat y futuro cardenal: "El Papa quiere darnos coraje a las iglesias del norte de África", Madrid, Europa Press, 06 sep, 2019 10:40; Red hat for Rabat gives greater visibility to minority church in Morocco by Carol Glatz, Crux, Catholic News Service, Sep 7, 2019; Cristóbal López Romero, testigo de la Iglesia minoritaria del norte de África by Rosa Die Alcolea, Zenit, octubre 05, 2019 10:30; Il neo-cardinale López Romero: “La mia nomina per rafforzare il dialogo aperto con l’Islam” by Domenico Agasso Jr., Vatican Insider, 05 Ottobre 2019; Mediterraneo frontiera di pace, il cardinale Lopez: “Penso sia tempo di un sinodo dedicato alle migrazioni” by Cristina Uguccione, Vatican Insider, 22 Dicembre 2019; Cardenal Cristóbal López: "Las migraciones no son un problema, sino la consecuencia de muchos problemas", salesianos.info, 02/01/2020; Incontro Cei sul Mediterraneo: card. López Romero (Rabat), “sia un Sinodo sulle migrazioni”, Servizio Informazione Religiosa, 23 gennaio 2020 @ 16:10; Marocco: udienza del card. Lopez Romero con il Re Mohammed VI al Palazzo Reale di Rabat, in preparazione una sua visita a Roma dal Papa, Servizio Informazione Religiosa, 24 gennaio 2020 @ 17:16; Cardenal López: «El fenómeno de las migraciones merece un sínodo», Alfa y Omega, 20-02-2020; Marruecos: El cardenal López Romero invita a leer este momento a la luz de la palabra de Dios, Zenit, marzo 19, 2020 14:53; El Arzobispo de Rabat: de Foucauld y el estilo de la Iglesia del Magreb by Tiziana Campisi, Vatican News, Ciudad del Vaticano, 29 mayo 2020, 15:30; Spanish cardinals offer their red hats to women, calling the zucchetto an ‘illusion’ by Inés San Martín, Crux, Rosario, Argentina, Jun 25, 2020; Cardenal López Romero, en el ITVR: Siete convicciones sobre las periferias y cinco propuestas para la vida consagrada, Ecclesia Digital, 20 May 2021; Morocco’s Rabat Archdiocese Convenes Synod, Seeking New Approaches to Evangelization by Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa, Rabat, 24 May, 2021 / 7:48 pm; Catholic archdiocese in Morocco to hold second-ever synod by Guy Aimé Eblotié, La Crix International, May 27, 2021; Morocco’s cardinal: Christians should be a ‘sacrament of encounter’ for Muslim neighborsCatholic News Agency, Rome Newsroom, Jun 4, 2021 / 09:00 am; Cristóbal López, cardenal de Rabat: "Tengo amigos musulmanes que darían la vida por mí", Religión Digital, Facultad de Teología de Burgos, 08.07.2021; “Sufría a la distancia con el pueblo paraguayo”, afirmó el cardenal López Ultima Hora, 18 de julio de 2021 - 00:37; Cardeanl instó a corregir a pastores cuando sea preciso by Antonia Delvalle, ABC, 19 de julio de 2021 - 1:00; Mano a mano LN con el cardenal Cristóbal López: “Me sentí uno más y acogí a Paraguay como mi nación” by Viviana Orrego, La Nación, 26 de julio de 2021 19:45; Maroc: la cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Rabat célèbre son centenaire by Guy Aimé Eblotié, La Croix Africa, 4 novembre 2021; Marocco: morte del piccolo Rayan. Card. López Romero (Rabat), “Dio ci aiuti a vivere i valori di unità e fraternità sempre”, Servizio Informazione Religiosa, 7 Febbraio 2022 @ 10:10; Incontro vescovi e sindaci del Mediterraneo. Card. López Romero (Marocco): “È Cristo stesso che nei migranti grida: sto alla porta e busso” by M. Chiara Biagioni, Servizio Informazione Religiosa, 8 Febbraio 2022; Cardinal Lopez Romero: l’Église du Maroc, laboratoire en Méditerranée, interview realized by Delphine Allaire, Vatican News, Cité du Vatican, 24 février 2022, 17:00, with audio; Mediterráneo. Cardenal López Romero: es posible vivir la unidad y comunión en la diversidad by Renato Martinez, Vatican News, Ciudad del Vaticano, 25 febrero 2022, 09:56; Cardenal Cristóbal López: "Hay que hablar menos de los inmigrantes y más con los inmigrantes" by Josep Miquel Bausset, Religión Digital, 26.03.2022; Caldo e siccità. Card. López Romero (Rabat): “Siamo sulla stessa barca. O salviamo tutti o moriremo tutti” by M. Chiara Biagioni, Servizio Informazione Religiosa, 31 Maggio 2022; Cardinal praises pope for controversial dialogue with Muslims by Loup Besmond de Senneville, La Croix International, Vatican City, June 8, 2022.
Birth. July 18, 1946, Brno, Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia). He migrated with his family to Canada when he was two years old. Son of Egon Czerny (he spent eight months in a forced labor camp in the last eight months of the war because he refused to divorce his “Jewish” wife) and Winifred Hayek, who was raised Catholic but considered by the Nazis to be Jewish because her grandparents were born Jewish (she spent 20 months in the infamous Terezin concentration camp and ghetto in German-occupied Czechoslovakia). He has a brother, Robert, a communications consultant who lives in Ottawa, and is married to Katharina. His maternal grandmother, Anna Low Hayek, died in Auschwitz a few weeks after it was liberated by the Allies in 1945 as she was too weak to survive. Her husband and two sons had died sometime earlier.
Education. Joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1963. In 1978 he received his doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Chicago.
Priesthood. Ordained, June 9, 1973, for the Jesuit Province of Canada. In 1979, in Toronto, he founded the Jesuit Center for Faith and Social Justice and directed it until 1989 when, following the Jesuit killing at the Central American University (UCA), he moved to San Salvador where, in 1991 he held the position of Vice-Rector of the UCA and Director of the Institute for Human Rights of the same Center. Fron 1992 to 2002 he was Secretary for Social Justice in the General Curia of the Society of Jesus; and successively, he operated in Africa as founder and Director of the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN), Support network for African Jesuits committed to responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2005 he taught at Hekima College, in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, in Nairobi, collaborating with the Episcopal Conference of Kenya. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him auditor (expert) of the Second Synod of Bishops for Africa. In 2010, he was named Consultor of the Pontifical Council Iustitia et Pax. On December 14, 2016, Pope Francis named him Under-Secretary of the Section for Refugees and Migrants of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development. Participated in the member of the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 3 to 28, 2018, on the topic The Youth, Faith and the Vocational Discernment; by papal appointment. On May 4, 2019, he was named special secretary of the Special Synod for the Pan-Amasonic Region. He has been the pope’s right-hand man on migrant and refugee issues from his perch at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Episcopate. Elected titular Archbishop of Benevento, September 23, 2019. Consecrated October 4, 2019, at the Papal Vatican Basilica, by Pope Francis, assisted by Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson. Numerous Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops also concelebrated. In the same ceremony were consecrated Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio; Antoine Camilleri, Apostolic Nuncio; and Paolo Rudelli, Apostolic Nuncio. His episcopal motto is Suscipe, meaning, “take and receive,” which is the first word of the final prayer of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. His new episcopal pectoral cross is made from the wood of a boat full of migrants which landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa. His episcopal coat of arms depicts a boat of migrants crossing the sea above his episcopal motto.
Cardinalate. Created Cardinal Deacon in the Consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the Deaconry of San Michele Arcangelo in same Consistory. Took possession of his deaconry on Sunday January 19, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. On February 21, 2020, he was named member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. On July 8, 2020, he was named member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog. On December 23, 2021, he was named prefect ad interim of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development; on April 23, 2022, he was named prefect of that Dicastery.
Webgraphy.
Photograph and biography, in Italian,
Sala Stampa della Santa Sede;
photograph and biography, in English,
Press Office of the Holy See;
Birth. August 17, 1937, Walsall, England, from a Catholic family of Irish descent.
Education. Initially, he attended Queen Mary's Grammar School. Wishing from an early age to become a priest and a missionary, he joined the Junior Seminary of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) at the age of twelve, first in Scotland, then in the South of England. He studied philosophy for two years, the first in England and the second in Ireland. He did his novitiate in the Netherlands from 1956 to 1957; and pursued his theological studies from 1957 to 1961 in Tunisia, where he began learning Arabic and acquiring some knowledge of Islam. Upon ordination in 1961, he was sent to Rome to study Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Among his teachers was Jesuit theologian Bernard Lonergan. This was the time of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) which provided the opportunity of attending lectures by theologians such as Karl Rahner and Yves Congar, future Cardinal. He completed his doctorate in Theology in 1965 on the missionary intention in the writings of the Latin apologists. In 1965 he started a BA in Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, graduating in 1968, whereupon he became a lecturer at the IPEA (Institut Pontifical d'Études Arabes), later renamed the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (PISAI). Besides his native English, he speaks French and Italian; has knowledge of Arabic; and some German.
Priesthood. Ordained, February 3, 1961, by Cardinal William Godfrey, Archbishop of Westminster, England. After one year lecturing at the PISAI, in 1969, he was appointed lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Makerere, Kampala, Uganda, where he taught courses on Islam to Muslim as well as to Christian students. In 1971 he returned to Rome to pursue his teaching and scholarly interests at the PISAI. From 1972 to 1978, he was Director of the PISAI. During this period, Father Fitzgerald was involved in the creation of Encounter, Documents for Christian-Muslim Understanding, a periodical publication on Islam, and supervised the launch of Islamochristiana, a scholarly journal specialised in Christian-Muslim relations and interreligious dialogue. In 1972, he became consultor of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, then known as Secretariat for Non-Christians. In 1978, he returned to Africa to carry out parish work in Sudan, in the town of New Halfa (Archdiocese of Khartoum). His duties included ministering to the Christian population while also cooperating with the Muslim community. In 1980, he was elected to the General Council of the Missionaries of Africa in Rome, where he spent six years managing and organizing. On January 22, 1987, he was appointed Secretary of the then Secretariat for Non-Christians, called since 1988 Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID). In that capacity, he helped draft Dialogue and Proclamation, one of the Catholic Church's documents concerning the relationship between dialogue and evangelization.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Nepte, December 16, 1991. Consecrated, January 6, 1992, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Giovanni Battista Re, titular archbishop of Vescovio, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops, and by Josip Uhac, titular archbishop of Tharros, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples. On October 1, 2002 he was appointed president of the same pontifical council and promoted to archbishop. On November 23, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him a member of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity; in 2004 the Pope appointed him a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Confirmed in that post by the new Pope Benedict XVI on April 21, 2005. On February 15, 2006, he was named apostolic nuncio to the Arab Republic of Egypt and delegate to the League of Arab States; occupied the post until the resignation presented by age limit on October 23, 2012. In retirement he remained at the Missionaries of Africa in Ste Anne, Jerusalem until early in 2019, when he returned to England to work in a Liverpool parish. He has published Signs of Dialogue (with Robert Caspar); Christian Encounter with Muslims (1992); Dieu rêve d'unité; Les catholiques et les religions: les leçons du dialogue; Entretiens avec Annie Laurent (2005); Interfaith Dialogue (with John Borelli); A Catholic View (2006); and numerous articles in Concilium, Islamochristiana, Pro Dialogo, Gregorianum, Origins, among others.
Cardinalate. Created Cardinal deacon in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the deaconry of Santa Maria in Portico in that same Consistory. He was older than eighty years at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate and thus not eligible to participate in a conclave. Took possession of his deaconry on Saturday February 1, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. On December 31, 2021, it was announced that he had been appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; biography, in English, Wikipedia; Michael Louis Fitzgerald, Curriculum vitae, Monastic Interreligious Dialog, 18.3.2013; Archbishop Fitzgerald reflects on the Arab Spring by Gerard O'Connell, La Stampa, June 10, 2013; Islam expert brings red hat to multicultural ministry in Liverpool by Carol Glatz, Philadelphia, Vatican City, CatholicPhilly, Catholic News Service, September 13, 2019; British Catholic Archbishop to become Cardinal, by Premier Journalist, Sat 14 Sep 2019; ‘This is the Christian message’: Cardinal urges Catholics to join struggle for racial justice, Catholic News Agency, Jun 30, 2020 / 12:00 pm MT; Cardinal urges British Catholics to pray for Eastern Christians, Independet Catholic News, May 1st, 2021; London: Cardinal Fitzgerald lecture on 'Christians in the Arab World and Interreligious Dialogue', Independent Catholic News, Nov 14th, 2021; English cardinal grateful to be honored by queen in annual New Year’s list by Luke Coppen, Catholic News Agency, Liverpool, England, Jan 4, 2022 / 03:35 am.
Birth. November 7, 1938, in the village of Gudonys (district of Lazdijai), Lithuania. From a farming family.
Education. After having graduated from the secondary school in Seirijai in 1955, he entered the Interdiocesan Seminary in Kaunas. In 1957, he had to interrupt his studies in the seminary because of the obligatory military service. He continued his studies of theology after the military service and graduated 1962.
Priesthood. Ordained, April 18, 1962, by Petras Mazelis, titular bishop of Celenderis, apostolic administrator of Telšiai. In the following years, he ministered as vicar in the parishes of Alytus, Lazdijai, Kudirkos Naumiestis, Prienai, Simnas. In 1968, he entered the Society of Jesus. At that time Catholic religious congregations were illegal according to Soviet law. He was among the initiators of the petition action protesting against the Soviet discriminating restrictions considering the conditions of the Interdiocesan Theological Seminary in Kaunas. Because of that, Soviet authorities forbade Father Tamkevičius to exercise his priestly ministry. He worked in the factory and in the land reclamation area for one year. In 1972, while being vicar of Simnas parish, he published the underground publication The Chronicle of the Catholic Church of Lithuania. The Chronicle registered and made public in the West the facts of religious discrimination in Soviet Lithuania. The underground publication was severely persecuted by Soviet repressive authorities, mainly the KGB. Father Tamkevičius was the editor of The Chronicle for 11 years until his arrest in 1983. He was the pastor of Kybartai parish from 1975 until 1983. In 1978, together with four other Lithuanian priests he founded The Catholic Committee for the Defense of the Believers’ Rights. In 1983, Father Tamkevičius was arrested and brought to trial accused of alleged anti-Soviet propaganda and agitation. He was sentenced to a ten-year-term of prison and exile. He spent his prison term in the labor camps of Perm and Mordovia. In 1988, he was exiled to Siberia. Thanks to liberalization of Soviet politics caused by perestrojka, Father Tamkevičius was set free. In 1989, the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference appointed him spiritual director in the Interdiocesan Seminary of Kaunas. In 1990, he was appointed rector of the Seminary.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Turuda and appointed auxiliary of Kaunas, May 8, 1991. Consecrated, May 19, 1991, by Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicus, M.I.C., archbishop of Kaunas, assisted by Vladas Michelevicius, titular bishop of Tapso, by Antanas Vaičius, bishop of Telšiai, by Romualdas Krikšciunas, titular bishop of Amaia, and by Juozas Preikšas, titular bishop of Egnatia. His episcopal motto is Dominus Illuminatio Mea. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Kaunas, 1996. From 1999 to 2002 and from 2005 to 2014, he was president, and from 2002 to 2005, vice-president of Lithuanian Bishops' Conference. From 2005 to 2015, he served as president of the Commission for Media of Social Communication; and from 2011 to 2014, he was chairman of the Council for Social Affairs of Lithuanian Bishops‘ Conference. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Kaunas on June 11, 2015. The Pope appointed Lionginas Virbalas, S.J., until then bishop of Panevėžys, archbishop of Kaunas. In 2018, he joined Pope Francis on a prayerful tour of the former KGB headquarters in Vilnius.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of Sant’Angela Merici in that same Consistory. He was older than eighty years at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate and thus not eligible to participate in a conclave. Took possession of his Title on Sunday January 26, 2020, at 11:00 a.m
Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; photograph, arms and biography, in English, Wikipedia; photograph and biography, in English, Lituanian Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius SJ. The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, Brangūs Bernardinai.lt, Kovo 12 d., 2012 (March 12, 2012); his photograph, arms and biography, in Lithuanian, Kauno arkivyskupija, 2017; Tamkevičius: il cardinale venuto dal GULag by Paolo Polesana, La Nuova Europa, Bergamo, Italia, 4 Settembre 2019; Lithuania’s new cardinal spent time in Soviet prison for defending Catholicism by Jonathan Luxmoore, America the Jesuit Review, Catholic News Service, Warsaw, Poland, September 30, 2019; Sights and Sounds of Rome: Encounters with three new Princes of the Church by John L. Allen Jr., Crux, Rome, Oct 5, 2019; A new cardinal honors an entire nation by George Weigel, The Catholic World Report, Rome, October 30, 2019.
Birth. May 16, 1939, Lugo di Valpantena di Grezzana, diocese of Verona, Italy. He was the second of the six children of Rodolfo Dal Corso and Teresa Bellorio; he was given the name Eugenio to honor Pope Pius XII who had been elected Pope two months earlier.
Education. From the age of ten he attended the Don Calabria Institute and there decided to become a missionary. He made his religious profession in the Poor Servants of the Divine Providence (P.S.D.P.) religious congregation in 1956. The Congregation is also called the Saint John Calabria Congregation.
Priesthood. Ordained, July 7, 1963, in the Casa di Nazareth. He then completed his studies in dogmatics while he also was doing pastoral work in the Madonna di Campagna parish in Verona as well as in Naples. He also taught theology from 1967 to 1968. He began his career as a missionary in the city of Laferrere in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, in January 1975, where he helped educate new priests. After just over a decade there, he was assigned to the missions in Luanda, Angola, in March 1986. One of his projects there was the construction of a seminary in Uíje. In 1991 he was appointed the Provincial Superior of his Order in Angola.
Episcopate. Elected coadjutor bishop of Saurimo, Angola, December 15, 1995. Consecrated, March 3, 1996, by Félix del Blanco Prieto, titular archbishop of Vannida, apostolic delegate to Angola, assisted by Andrea Veggio, titular bishop of Velia, auxiliary bishop of Verona, Italy, and by Pedro Marcos Ribeiro da Costa, bishop of Saurimo. His episcopal motto is Sapientia. Succeeded to the see of Saurimo, January 15, 1997. He was sent to Cabinda in July 2005 to become apostolic administrator of the diocese. On July 18, he was beaten while preparing to celebrate Mass at the church of the Immaculate Conception and had to be taken to the hospital. Bishop Dal Corso responded by shutting the parish and suspending its pastor, Father Jorge Casimiro Congo. After local priests, including Cabinda's vicar general Father Raul Tati, protested against this move by writing to the Vatican with a request for Bishop Dal Corso's resignation, Bishop Dal Corso dismissed Father Tati from his position. Many Cabindan clergy went on strike in solidarity with the suspended priests and refused to celebrate Mass. While CEAST stated that it held the priests “completely” responsible for not celebrating Mass, Father Congo responded that no dialogue had been held with the Cabindan clergy and people. Meanwhile, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda stated that it held CEAST responsible for the confrontation and implied that the bishops' conference was being manipulated by the Angolan government. Papal nuncio Giovanni Angelo Becciu emphasized that Bishop Vieira Dias's nomination was a matter of papal prerogative and would not be revoked. He came to Cabinda in order to meet with Bishop Dal Corso, and while he held a “fraternal” meeting with Cabindan priests, his meeting with laypeople was "hostile" and his car was stoned by a crowd. At the beginning of December 2005, an accord for the resumption of the celebration of Masses was reached. By the end of March 2006, the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST) declared that the religious life of the Cabinda diocese was back to normal. Transferred to the see of Benguela, February 18, 2008. Resigned the pastoral government of the diocese of Benguela, March 26, 2018, for age limits. Strong in his missionary vocation, and still feeling in good health, he chose nevertheless not to withdraw, but to continue working on the front line in the diocese of Menongue, one of the most needy in Angola. On July 22, 2018 the apostolic administrator, Pío Hipunyati, appointed him chaplain of the pastoral center of Saint Josefina Bakhita of Caiundo, a small community in the province of Kuando Kubango, in the south of the country, 130 kilometers from the capital. He announced that he will immediately return to Caiundo to continue his service to the poorest.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of October 5, 2019; received the red biretta, the cardinalitial ring and the title of Sant’Anastasia in that same consistory. He was older than eighty years at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate and thus not eligible to participate in a conclave. He is the first cardinal of his religious congregation. He plans to continue working in the diocese of Benguela. He took possession of his title on November 17, 2019.
Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Press Office of the Holy See; biography, in English, Wikipedia; Diocese di Saurimo, Conferência Episcopal de Angola e São Tomé, Rua Comandante Bula, 118 - C.P. 3579 Bairro São Paulo - Luanda - Angola; Africa/Amgola - Undeterred by an attack in the sacresty Bishop Eugenio Dal Corso new Administrator Apostolic of Cabinda assures Fides: “I will stay and carry on the task entrusted to me by the Church”, Agenzia Fides, Cabinda, Thursday, 21 July 2005; Resignation of bishop of Benguela, Angola, and appointment of successor, Holy See Press Office, 26.03.2018; Il Papa nomina cardinale il veronese mons. Eugenio Dal Corso, Verona Sera, 01 settembre 2019 16:57; D. Eugénio Dal Corso recebido com júbilo por fiéis e auroridades de Angola by Anastácio Sasembele, Vatican News, Saurimo, Angola, 15 outubro 2019, 10:34, with audio; El cardenal que vuelve a ser misionero by Victoria Isabel Cardiel C., alfa&omega, 28 de Noviembre de 2021.
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