Fernando Cardenal facts for kids
Fernando Cardenal Martínez (born January 26, 1934 – died February 20, 2016) was a special kind of Catholic priest called a Jesuit. He was also a liberation theologian, which means he believed in helping poor people gain freedom and justice, using his faith.
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Fernando Cardenal's Family
Fernando Cardenal was born in Granada, Nicaragua. His family was well-known and important. He was the fifth son of Rodolfo Cardenal and Esmeralda Martinez.
His brother, Ernesto Cardenal, was also a Catholic priest. Ernesto was also a famous poet and a politician in Nicaragua. Fernando Cardenal was also a cousin to another poet, Pablo Antonio Cuadra.
Working for Nicaragua's Future
Fernando Cardenal became a very important person in Nicaragua. From 1984 to 1990, he served as the Minister of Education. This was during a time when the Sandinista political group was in charge. His brother, Ernesto Cardenal, was also a minister, serving as the Minister of Culture.
Because Fernando Cardenal worked with the leftist Sandinistas and supported liberation theology, he faced some challenges. He had to leave the Society of Jesus for a time. Also, the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, stopped him and his brother Ernesto from working as priests.
In 1984, Fernando Cardenal wrote an open letter. He explained that he could not imagine a God who would ask him to stop helping the people. He felt he could be true to his church and also serve the poor in Nicaragua. He believed in the Sandinista revolution's goals for the poor.
In 1990, Cardenal left his political job. Seven years later, in 1997, he was allowed to rejoin the Jesuit order.
The Nicaraguan Literacy Campaign
One of Fernando Cardenal's biggest achievements was in 1980. He led the Nicaraguan Literacy Campaign. This was a huge effort by the Sandinistas to teach people how to read and write.
About 60,000 young volunteers helped with this campaign. They successfully taught basic reading and writing to more than half a million people. This was a major step in helping many Nicaraguans get an education.
Later Years and Continued Service
After his time in government, Fernando Cardenal continued to work for education. He became a director at the Fe y Alegría organization in Managua, Nicaragua. This group helps provide education for poor children.
As mentioned, he was welcomed back into the Jesuit order in 1997. This happened four years after he decided to leave the Sandinista National Liberation Front. He then continued his work as a priest.
Fernando Cardenal visited several Jesuit universities in the United States. For example, he went to the University of Detroit Mercy in 2013. He also visited John Carroll University in 2014.
During these visits, he spoke about his strong desire to help the poor. He also shared his experiences as a Jesuit priest and a liberation theologian during the Nicaraguan Revolution. He talked about his role as Minister of Education and the importance of education in Nicaragua. He even gave an interview to a student at Georgetown University in 2014.
Fernando Cardenal's Passing
Fernando Cardenal died in Managua on February 20, 2016. His funeral was held the next day at the Central American University in Managua, which is run by the Jesuits.
See also
In Spanish: Fernando Cardenal para niños
