Cardinal Francis Arinze

Jun 152009
 

[Cardinal Francis Arinze]
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Ordained on 23 November 1958 in the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. Coadjutor Bishop of Onitsha and Titular Bishop of Fissiana on 6 July 1965. Archbishop of Onitsha from 26 June 1967 until 9 March 1985. Pro-Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on 8 April 1984. Close advisor to Pope John Paul II. Cardinal-Deacon of San Giovanni della Pigna and President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on 25 May 1985. Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni della Pigna on 29 January 1996. Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 1 October 2002 until his retirement on 9 December 2008. Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni on 25 April 2005. Voted in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. Occasionally served as special envoy for Benedict XVI.

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