Marc Ouellet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Marc Ouellet PSS |
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Ouellet in 2012
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| Appointed | 30 June 2010 |
| Reign ended | 30 January 2023 |
| Predecessor | Giovanni Battista Re |
| Successor | Robert Francis Prevost |
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| Ordination | 25 May 1968 |
| Consecration | 19 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II |
| Created Cardinal | 21 October 2003 |
| Rank | Cardinal Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Marc Armand Ouellet |
| Born | 8 June 1944 La Motte, Quebec, Canada |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Pierre Ouellet and Graziella Michaud |
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| Motto | Ut unum sint (That they may be one) |
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| Styles of Marc Ouellet |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Marc Armand Ouellet (born 8 June 1944) is a Canadian Catholic leader. He is a member of the Sulpicians. From 2010 to 2023, he served as the head of the Dicastery for Bishops. This important office helps the Pope choose new bishops around the world. He also led the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Before these roles, Ouellet was the Archbishop of Quebec from 2003 to 2010. This made him the top Catholic leader in Canada. Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in 2003. Cardinals are special advisors to the Pope. He was even considered a possible candidate to become Pope in 2005 and 2013.
Ouellet spent many years as a priest. From 1972 to 2001, he taught in seminaries. Seminaries are schools where people train to become priests. He worked in Canada, Colombia, and Rome. He also held a short role in the Roman Curia, which is like the Pope's government, from 2001 to 2003.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marc Ouellet was born on 8 June 1944 in La Motte, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in a Catholic family with eight children. His father, Pierre, was a farmer who taught himself many things. He later became the director of the local school board.
Marc enjoyed reading, ice hockey, hunting, and fishing as a child. One summer, he even fought forest fires. After a hockey injury at age 17, he started thinking more deeply about life. He decided he wanted to become a priest, even though his father was not sure about it at first.
He studied at the Major Seminary of Montreal from 1964 to 1969. There, he earned a degree in theology.
Becoming a Priest and Teacher
Marc Ouellet became a priest on 25 May 1968. He worked at a church in Val-d'Or for two years. Then, he began to divide his time between seminary work and further studies.
In 1970, he taught philosophy at a seminary in Bogotá, Colombia. He joined the Sulpicians in 1972. He earned another degree in philosophy in Rome in 1974. He then returned to teaching and managing seminaries in Colombia and Canada.
He continued his studies in dogmatic theology in Rome, earning a doctorate in 1983. His studies focused on the work of a Swiss Catholic theologian named Hans Urs von Balthasar.
From 1996 to 2002, he taught theology at the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences. This institute is part of a larger university in Rome.
Roles in the Church
In 1990, Ouellet joined the editorial board of Communio. This is a journal about Catholic theology. In 1995, he became an advisor for the Congregation for the Clergy. In 1999, he advised the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
On 3 March 2001, Ouellet was named the titular archbishop of Agropoli. He also became the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Pope John Paul II made him a bishop on 19 March 2001. On 12 June 2001, he became an advisor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Archbishop of Quebec
On 15 November 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Ouellet as the Archbishop of Quebec. He officially started this role on 26 January 2003. In this position, he spoke for the Catholic Church on many public issues.
In 2005, Ouellet spoke to the Senate of Canada. He asked them to vote against legalizing same-sex marriage. He called it a "pseudo-marriage."
In 2007, Ouellet wrote a letter published in Quebec newspapers. He apologized for past "errors" made by the Catholic Church in Quebec. He mentioned attitudes before 1960 that caused problems.
In 2008, Ouellet criticized a new course in Quebec schools. The course was called Ethics and religious culture. He worried that teachers might not be able to teach it fairly. He believed that Quebec's religious history was important for society.
Becoming a Cardinal
On 21 October 2003, Pope John Paul II made Marc Ouellet a cardinal. He was assigned to the church of Santa Maria in Traspontina.
He was one of the cardinals who could vote in the 2005 papal conclave. This is the meeting where cardinals choose a new Pope. Some people thought he might be chosen as Pope. He was described as friendly, humble, and open to listening to others. He supported Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope John Paul II and later Pope Benedict XVI gave Ouellet many important roles. These included being a member of various Church groups. He advised on topics like worship, education, and culture.
In October 2008, Ouellet was the main secretary for a meeting of bishops. This meeting discussed "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church." He spoke about interpreting the Bible with faith. He also talked about reading scripture in line with Church teachings.
In 2011, Ouellet said that being Pope "would be a nightmare." He saw how much work Pope Benedict had. He felt it was a "crushing responsibility" and not something to seek out.
Ouellet also voted in the 2013 conclave. This meeting elected Pope Francis. Ouellet received many votes in the early rounds.
Work in the Roman Curia
On 30 June 2010, Pope Benedict named Ouellet the head of the Congregation for Bishops. He also became the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
After a few months, he described his new job. He said the Church needed bishops who could share the Gospel. They should not just manage their areas. They needed to be faithful to the Pope and defend their faith publicly. He also warned against priests who try too hard to get promoted.
In February 2011, Ouellet spoke about interpreting the Bible. He noted that Europe was becoming less religious. He said that some people wanted to make the Bible less important.
He became a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2010. In 2011, he joined the new Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation. He also joined the Secretariat of State and other important Church groups.
Pope Francis gave him more roles in 2014. These included being a member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Congregation for the Clergy.
In 2018, Pope Francis raised Ouellet to the rank of Cardinal Bishop. In September 2018, Ouellet said women should have more roles in training priests. He also said they should help in teaching and choosing candidates. In October, he spoke about fighting against "machista" culture. He wanted more respect for women and their equal role in society and the Church.
In 2019, Ouellet published a book about priestly celibacy. Celibacy means priests do not marry. He believed celibacy had a strong power for spreading the faith.
Pope Francis accepted Ouellet's resignation from his roles on 30 January 2023.
Personal Life and Skills
Marc Ouellet is very good with languages. He can speak English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Latin, and German.
Distinctions
- Holy See: Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Images for kids
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Coat of arms of Marc Ouellet
See also
In Spanish: Marc Ouellet para niños
