Roman Catholic Cardinal. The Archbishop Emeritus of Guatemala City, he shall probably be remembered for his part in ending his country's long-running civil war. Raised in the Guatemalan capital city, he studied at the Seminary of San Jose in El Salvador, was ordained a Priest on September 21, 1956, and in 1959 earned a degree in theology from the University of Innsbruck, Austria. After receiving a doctorate in canon law from Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University in 1962 he returned to Guatemala City where he held a variety of positions including university chaplain and chaplain to the Archbishop, Rector of the National Major Seminary of the Assumption, and professor at Rafael Landivar University and the University of San Carlos. Consecrated Bishop on April 5, 1972, he was successively Auxiliary, Coadjutor, and Bishop of Zacapa. During his term the Bishop served as President of the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference from 1988 thru 1992 and desiring to bring peace to his land headed the Commission for National Reconciliation from 1987 to 1993 and the Assembly of Civil Society from 1994 until a peace accord was reached in 1996. Appointed Archbishop of Guatemala City in 2001 he served a second term as Episcopal Conference President between 2002 and 2006 and on October 21, 2003, received his red hat when he was Created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. The Cardinal participated in the April 2005 Conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI, retired from office in October of 2010, lived out his days in his native city, and died of intestinal problems.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. The Archbishop Emeritus of Guatemala City, he shall probably be remembered for his part in ending his country's long-running civil war. Raised in the Guatemalan capital city, he studied at the Seminary of San Jose in El Salvador, was ordained a Priest on September 21, 1956, and in 1959 earned a degree in theology from the University of Innsbruck, Austria. After receiving a doctorate in canon law from Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University in 1962 he returned to Guatemala City where he held a variety of positions including university chaplain and chaplain to the Archbishop, Rector of the National Major Seminary of the Assumption, and professor at Rafael Landivar University and the University of San Carlos. Consecrated Bishop on April 5, 1972, he was successively Auxiliary, Coadjutor, and Bishop of Zacapa. During his term the Bishop served as President of the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference from 1988 thru 1992 and desiring to bring peace to his land headed the Commission for National Reconciliation from 1987 to 1993 and the Assembly of Civil Society from 1994 until a peace accord was reached in 1996. Appointed Archbishop of Guatemala City in 2001 he served a second term as Episcopal Conference President between 2002 and 2006 and on October 21, 2003, received his red hat when he was Created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. The Cardinal participated in the April 2005 Conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI, retired from office in October of 2010, lived out his days in his native city, and died of intestinal problems.
Bio by: Find a Grave
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