Francis Arinze facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Francis Arinze |
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| Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments | |
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| See | Velletri-Segni |
| Appointed | 1 October 2002 |
| Reign ended | 9 December 2008 |
| Predecessor | Jorge Arturo Augustin Medina Estévez |
| Successor | Antonio Cañizares Llovera |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni |
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| Ordination | 23 November 1958 |
| Consecration | 29 August 1965 by Charles Heerey |
| Created Cardinal | 25 May 1985 |
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| Born | 1 November 1932 Onitsha, Colony of Nigeria, British Empire |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
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| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Francis Arinze (born 1 November 1932) is a Nigerian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He held important leadership roles in the Vatican. From 2002 to 2008, he was the head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Before that, he led the office for relations with other religions from 1984 to 2002.
He became a cardinal in 1985. Since 2005, he has been the Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni. Cardinal Arinze was a key advisor to Pope John Paul II. He was even considered a possible new Pope in 2005, when Pope Benedict XVI was chosen.
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Early Life and Education
Francis Arinze was born in Eziowelle, Anambra, Nigeria. He grew up following an African traditional religion. On his ninth birthday, November 1, 1941, he was baptized into the Catholic Church. The priest who baptized him was Father Michael Tansi.
When he was 15, Francis joined the All Hallows Seminary in Onitsha. He finished his studies there in 1950 with a degree in philosophy. His father first didn't want him to join the seminary. But he changed his mind when he saw how much Francis enjoyed it.
From 1955, Francis Arinze studied theology in Rome at the Pontifical Urban University. He earned a high-level doctorate degree in sacred theology. On November 23, 1958, he became a priest.
Becoming a Priest
After becoming a priest, Francis Arinze stayed in Rome. He continued his studies and earned more degrees in theology. His doctoral paper was about "Ibo Sacrifice as an Introduction to the Catechesis of Holy Mass." This paper later became a book called "Sacrifice in Ibo Religion."
From 1961 to 1962, Arinze taught at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu, Nigeria. He taught subjects like liturgy and philosophy. Later, he became the regional secretary for Catholic education in eastern Nigeria. He also studied in London in 1964.
Serving as Bishop and Archbishop
On July 6, 1965, Pope Paul VI chose Francis Arinze to be a titular bishop. He became the assistant to Archbishop Charles Heerey in Onitsha, Nigeria. At 32 years old, Arinze was the youngest Roman Catholic bishop in the world. He became a bishop on August 29, 1965.
He also attended the last meeting of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. When Archbishop Heerey passed away in 1967, Pope Paul VI appointed Arinze to take his place. He was the first native African to lead this important archdiocese.
The Nigeria-Biafra War began shortly after Arinze became archbishop. His entire church area was in the Biafran region. During the war, Arinze helped many refugees. He worked with foreign missionaries to distribute aid. He made sure the Church stayed neutral during the conflict.
After the war, the Nigerian government sent all foreign missionaries home. They also took over Catholic schools, which were often used as churches. This left fewer local clergy to serve the people.
In 1985, he received a special honor called the Ochudouwa of Eziowelle. This is a traditional chieftaincy title. On March 9, 1985, Arinze left his role as archbishop in Onitsha.
Becoming a Cardinal
Pope John Paul II made Francis Arinze a Cardinal-Deacon on May 25, 1985. This happened at a special ceremony called a consistory. Ten years later, on January 29, 1996, he became a cardinal-priest.
Just two days after becoming a cardinal, Arinze was given a new job. He became the president of the Secretariat for Non-Christians. This office was later renamed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 1988. This means he worked to build good relationships with people of other religions.
He traveled a lot and became a popular speaker, especially in the United States. In 1999, he received a gold medal for his work in inter-faith relations.
Cardinal Arinze was also part of the committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. This was a big celebration for the Church. He helped bishops and priests around the world get ready for this special event. On October 1, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him to lead the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, Cardinal Arinze, like other Vatican leaders, lost his position automatically. He was considered a possible candidate for the next Pope. He was one of the cardinals who voted in the papal conclave that chose Pope Benedict XVI. After Pope Benedict XVI was elected, he confirmed Arinze in his role. On April 25, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI also made him the Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni.
On December 9, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Cardinal Arinze's resignation from his role as prefect.
Life in Retirement
Even in retirement, Cardinal Arinze remains very active. In 2009, he gave a speech at the Augustine Institute in Denver. He also teaches about the Catholic faith on Familyland TV. His programs are watched in the Americas, the Philippines, Africa, and Europe. He has made over 1,700 television shows. These shows cover many important teachings of the Church.
He has also written several books. In July 2009, he gave a major speech about talking and understanding between different religions.
Honors and Recognition
Cardinal Arinze has received many honorary degrees from universities. These include:
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1986)
- Catholic University of America (1998)
- Wake Forest University (1999)
- Catholic University of Manila (2001)
- Notre Dame University (2003)
- University of St. Mary of the Lake (2003)
- Seton Hall University (2005)
On October 5, 2021, a special center for peace and reconciliation was opened in Nigeria. It was named in honor of Cardinal Arinze.
See also
In Spanish: Francis Arinze para niños
