Ángel Sixto Rossi
Stored: Ángel Sixto Rossi
| His Eminence Ángel Sixto Rossi | |
| Bishop of Archdiocese of Córdoba | |
| Home diocese: | Archdiocese of Córdoba |
| Other diocese 1: | |
| Other diocese 2: | |
| Other diocese 3: | |
| Ordination: | 12 December 1986 by Archbishop Raúl Francisco Primatesta |
| Consecration: | 17 December 2021 by Archbishop Carlos José Ñáñez |
| Rank: | Cardinal |
| Created cardinal: | 30 September 2023 by Pope Francis |
| Personal details | |
| Born: | Ángel Sixto Rossi 11 August 1958 Córdoba, Argentina |
| Died: | |
| Nationality: | Argentina |
| Education: | Pontifical Gregorian University |
| Motto: | "En todo amar y servir" (In All Things, Love and Serve) |
| Role: | Diocesan |
| Theology: | Progressive |
| Region: | Latin America |
| Rite: | Roman Rite |
| Conclave Eligibility: | Eligible |
Ángel Sixto Rossi, S.J., born on 11 August 1958, is an Argentine prelate of the Catholic Church, serving as the Archbishop of Córdoba since 2021 and elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.[1] Born in Córdoba, Argentina, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1976, was ordained a priest in 1986, and has been a close friend of Pope Francis since their shared Jesuit formation.[2] Known for his progressive theology, commitment to social justice, and pastoral sensitivity, Rossi founded the Fundación Manos Abiertas in 1992 to serve the poor and marginalized, now operating in 11 Argentine cities.[3] His elevation as one of Argentina’s four cardinal-electors, alongside Víctor Manuel Fernández, Gabriel Antonio Mestre, and Mario Aurelio Poli, underscores his alignment with Pope Francis’ vision for a Church focused on mercy and inclusion.[4]
Rossi’s ministry emphasizes Ignatian spirituality, interreligious dialogue, and social outreach, notably through his leadership of Hogar San José, a shelter for the homeless, and his outspoken advocacy for drug rehabilitation and anti-narcotrafficking measures in Córdoba.[5] As first vice-president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (2024–2027), he has criticized policies under President Javier Milei, particularly cuts to retiree medicines, calling them “covert euthanasia,” and condemned Milei’s 2025 remarks linking homosexuality to pedophilia as “disrespectful and ignorant.”[6] His eligibility for the 2025 papal conclave positions him as a key figure, with some Argentine media noting his hope to maintain Pope Francis’ pastoral line, though he humorously dismissed papal candidacy with “¿Yo? De papa frita” (Me? A French fry pope).[7] Despite his global stature, Rossi remains committed to Córdoba, promoting synodality and a Church that prioritizes the vulnerable.[8]
Biography
Birth and early life
Ángel Sixto Rossi was born on 11 August 1958 in Córdoba, Argentina, the third child of Ángel Sixto Rossi and Delicia Ruiz Caraffa.[1] Raised in a Catholic family, he completed primary education at Colegio Dr. Alejandro Carbó and secondary education at Colegio Gabriel Taborín, a religious school run by the Brothers of the Holy Family of Belley in Córdoba.[9] His early exposure to Jesuit spirituality, influenced by Córdoba’s vibrant Catholic community, led him to enter the Jesuit novitiate in 1976 at age 18, under the guidance of then-provincial Fr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, later Pope Francis.[5]
Rossi’s childhood in Córdoba, a city marked by social disparities, shaped his lifelong commitment to the poor.[3] His decision to join the Jesuits was inspired by Ignatian principles of discernment and service, setting the stage for his pastoral and social initiatives.[2]
Education
Rossi began his Jesuit formation in 1976, studying philosophy and theology at the Colegio Máximo de San José in San Miguel, Argentina, and at Jesuit institutions in Ecuador.[2] He was ordained a priest on 12 December 1986 by Archbishop Raúl Francisco Primatesta.[1] He earned a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, with a thesis on spiritual discernment in Saint Ignatius of Loyola, deepening his expertise in Ignatian spirituality.[9]
His academic roles included serving as novice master (1992–1995) and offering Ignatian spiritual exercises to priests, religious, and laity, reflecting his focus on spiritual formation.[6] Rossi’s education, blending Jesuit rigor with pastoral application, equipped him for leadership in social justice and evangelization.[3]
Priesthood
Ordained for the Society of Jesus on 12 December 1986, Rossi served as rector of the Church of El Salvador in Buenos Aires (1990–1992), where he founded Hogar San José, a shelter for the homeless.[1][5] In 1992, he established the Fundación Manos Abiertas, a charity distributing food and clothing to the poor, which expanded to 11 Argentine cities and was recognized as a Jesuit apostolic work in 2019.[10] He served as novice master (1992–1995), superior of the Jesuit community in Córdoba (2013–2019), and provincial counselor for the Argentine-Uruguayan Jesuit province.[8]
Rossi’s priesthood was marked by his commitment to the marginalized, inspired by Ignatian principles and his friendship with Pope Francis.[5] His outspoken support for a priest running a drug rehabilitation center in Córdoba, despite an attack on the facility, highlighted his advocacy for social issues.[5] His prolific writing on spirituality, including works on St. Thérèse of Lisieux, furthered his pastoral influence.[3]
Bishop
Appointed Archbishop of Córdoba on 6 November 2021 by Pope Francis, Rossi was consecrated on 17 December 2021 by his predecessor, Archbishop Carlos José Ñáñez, with co-consecrators including Bishops Hugo Manuel Salaberry Goyeneche, S.J., and José Ángel Rovai.[1][4] Elevated to cardinal-priest of Santa Bernadette Soubirous on 30 September 2023, he became a key figure in Argentina’s Church, serving as first vice-president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (2024–2027).[4]
Rossi’s episcopal ministry has focused on social justice, condemning policies like retiree medicine cuts as “covert euthanasia” and criticizing President Milei’s remarks on homosexuality in 2025.[6] His emphasis on synodality, pastoral care, and interreligious dialogue aligns with Pope Francis’ vision, though his progressive stance has drawn conservative criticism.[8] His 2025 conclave eligibility has sparked media attention, with Rossi advocating for continuity in Francis’ pastoral approach.[7]
| Diocese | Role | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Córdoba | Metropolitan Archbishop | 6 November 2021 | Present | Elevated to cardinal in 2023; first Jesuit in this role |
Significant events
- Entered the Society of Jesus in 1976, mentored by Fr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio.[5]
- Ordained priest for the Jesuits in 1986.[1]
- Founded Hogar San José for the homeless in 1990.[5]
- Established Fundación Manos Abiertas in 1992, now in 11 cities.[10]
- Earned licentiate in spiritual theology from Pontifical Gregorian University.[9]
- Served as novice master (1992–1995) and superior of Córdoba Jesuit community (2013–2019).[8]
- Appointed Archbishop of Córdoba in 2021, the first Jesuit in the role.[4]
- Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.[2]
- Elected first vice-president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference in 2024.[4]
- Confirmed as eligible for the 2025 papal conclave.[7]
Books
Written about the bishop
- de Lis, Teresa (1 October 2023). "New cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, friend of Francis since 1976". https://aleteia.org/2023/10/01/new-cardinal-angel-sixto-rossi-friend-of-francis-since-1976/.
- Mazurczak, Filip (30 September 2023). "Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, S.J.: A Jesuit for the Poor". https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/09/30/meet-the-new-cardinals-angel-sixto-rossi/.
- González, María (10 July 2023). "Ángel Sixto Rossi, el nuevo cardenal argentino". https://www.lavoz.com.ar/ciudadanos/angel-sixto-rossi-el-nuevo-cardenal-argentino/.
Written by the bishop
- Rossi, Ángel Sixto (1999). Teresa. Buenos Aires: Paulinas Argentina. ISBN 978-9500909778. https://www.paulinas.org.ar/libro/teresa_rossi_angel_sixto.
- Rossi, Ángel Sixto (1999). Pequeños gesti con gran amore. Buenos Aires: Paulinas Argentina. ISBN 978-9500909785. https://www.paulinas.org.ar/libro/pequenos-gesti-con-gran-amore_rossi_angel_sixto.
- Rossi, Ángel Sixto (2002). Educar es difícil, posible y bello. Buenos Aires: Bonum. ISBN 978-9505076147. https://www.buscalibre.com.ar/libro-educar-es-dificil-posible-y-bello/9789505076147/p/1044046.
- Rossi, Ángel Sixto (2017). El secreto de la Belleza. Buenos Aires: Bonum. ISBN 978-9505079926. https://www.buscalibre.com.ar/libro-el-secreto-de-la-belleza/9789505079926/p/48746260.
External links
- Ángel Sixto Cardinal Rossi at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
- Biografía del Cardenal Ángel Sixto Rossi at Archdiocese of Córdoba
- Cardinal Rossi: Synodality Means Serving the Poor at Vatican News
- Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi at Vatican Press
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Cheney, David M.. "Ángel Sixto Cardinal Rossi, S.J.". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brossia.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Resignations and Appointments, 09.07.2023". 9 July 2023. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/09/230709a.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mazurczak, Filip (30 September 2023). "Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, S.J.: A Jesuit for the Poor". https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/09/30/meet-the-new-cardinals-angel-sixto-rossi/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "El Papa nombra cardenal a monseñor Ángel Sixto Rossi". 9 July 2023. https://aica.org/noticia-el-papa-nombra-cardenal-a-monsenor-angel-sixto-rossi.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 de Lis, Teresa (1 October 2023). "New cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, friend of Francis since 1976". https://aleteia.org/2023/10/01/new-cardinal-angel-sixto-rossi-friend-of-francis-since-1976/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 O’Connell, Gerard (15 January 2025). "Argentine cardinal criticizes Milei’s policies and remarks". https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/01/15/argentine-cardinal-milei-criticism-247123.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Piqué, Elisabetta (24 April 2025). "Ángel Sixto Rossi es uno de los cardenales que participará del cónclave". https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/angel-sixto-rossi-es-uno-de-los-cardenales-que-participara-del-conclave-nid24042025/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Cardinal Rossi: Synodality Means Serving the Poor". 13 October 2023. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-10/cardinal-rossi-synodality-service.html.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Biografía del Cardenal Ángel Sixto Rossi". https://www.arzobispadocordoba.org.ar/arzobispo/.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Nuestra Historia". https://www.manosabiertas.org.ar/historia.