Cristóbal López Romero: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Cristóbal López Romero (view source)

Revision as of 11:02, 30 April 2025

1,254 bytes added ,  30 April
no edit summary
VisualWikitext
(Created page with "{{Bishop |honorific_prefix=His Eminence |name=Antoine Kambanda |diocese=Archdiocese of Kigali |home_diocese=Archdiocese of Kigali |other_diocese1=Diocese of Kibungo |other_diocese2= |other_diocese3= |ordination=8 September 1990 |ordained_by=Archbishop Joseph Ruzindana |consecration=28 July 2013 |consecrated_by=Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga |rank=Cardinal |cardinal=28 November 2020 |created_cardinal_by=Pope Francis |conclave_eligibility=Eligible |birth_name=Antoine Kambanda...")
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Bishop
{{Bishop
|honorific_prefix=His Eminence
|honorific_prefix=His Eminence
|name=Antoine Kambanda
|name=Cristóbal López Romero
|diocese=Archdiocese of Kigali
|diocese=Archdiocese of Rabat
|home_diocese=Archdiocese of Kigali
|home_diocese=Archdiocese of Rabat
|other_diocese1=Diocese of Kibungo
|other_diocese1=Archdiocese of Tangier (Apostolic Administrator)
|other_diocese2=
|other_diocese2=
|other_diocese3=
|other_diocese3=
|ordination=8 September 1990
|ordination=19 May 1979
|ordained_by=Archbishop Joseph Ruzindana
|ordained_by=Archbishop Emilio Benavent Escuín
|consecration=28 July 2013
|consecration=10 March 2018
|consecrated_by=Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga
|consecrated_by=Cardinal Juan José Omella
|rank=Cardinal
|rank=Cardinal
|cardinal=28 November 2020
|cardinal=5 October 2019
|created_cardinal_by=Pope Francis
|created_cardinal_by=Pope Francis
|conclave_eligibility=Eligible
|conclave_eligibility=Eligible
|birth_name=Antoine Kambanda
|birth_name=Cristóbal López Romero
|birth_date=10 November 1958
|birth_date=19 May 1952
|birth_place=Nyamata, Rwanda
|birth_place=Vélez-Rubio, Spain
|death_date=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|death_place=
|nationality=Rwandan
|nationality=Spanish, Paraguayan
|education=Petit Séminaire Saint Pie X (Kigali), Grand Séminaire de Nyakibanda, Alphonsian Academy (Rome)
|education=Salesian Seminaries (Girona, Barcelona), Autonomous University of Barcelona
|motto="Ut Unum Sint" (That They May Be One)
|motto="Adveniat Regnum Tuum" (Thy Kingdom Come)
|role=Diocesan
|role=Diocesan
|theology=Moderate
|theology=Moderate
Line 29: Line 29:
}}
}}


Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, born {{Birth date and age|1958|11|10}}, is a Rwandan prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Archbishop of Kigali since 2018 and Rwanda’s first cardinal, elevated by Pope Francis in 2020.<ref name="web0">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Kambanda |title=Antoine Kambanda |publisher=Wikipedia |date=2020-10-25 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> A survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which claimed his immediate family, Kambanda has been a prominent advocate for reconciliation, emphasizing forgiveness and unity in his pastoral work, as reflected in his motto, “Ut Unum Sint” (That They May Be One, John 17:21).<ref name="web1">{{cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_kambanda_a.html |title=Cardinal Antoine Kambanda |publisher=Vatican Press |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His leadership includes promoting interfaith dialogue and addressing poverty, notably through initiatives like Caritas Rwanda, and he has been praised for fostering healing in post-genocide Rwanda, as noted by Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente in 2025.<ref name="web12">{{cite web |url=https://cardinaux.la-croix.com/antoine-kambanda/ |title=Antoine Kambanda |publisher=La Croix |date=2020-11-27 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> At 66, Kambanda is one of 19 African cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, where his participation, alongside pre-conclave discussions with figures like Cardinal Vincent Nichols, marks a historic moment for Rwanda’s global Church presence.<ref name="web15">{{cite web |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html |title=Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope |publisher=Vatican News |date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, SDB, born {{Birth date and age|1952|5|19}}, is a Spanish-Paraguayan prelate of the Roman Catholic Church and a Salesian, serving as Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco, since 2017 and Apostolic Administrator of Tangier since 2019.<ref name="web0">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristóbal_López_Romero |title=Cristóbal López Romero |publisher=Wikipedia |date=2019-09-01 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019, he is known for fostering Christian-Muslim dialogue in Morocco, a Muslim-majority nation, and advocating for migrants, whom he views as victims of systemic poverty and conflict rather than a societal burden.<ref name="web4">{{cite web |url=https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/cardinal-cristóbal-lópez-romero/ |title=Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero |publisher=The College of Cardinals Report |date=2024-11-23 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His motto, “Adveniat Regnum Tuum” (Thy Kingdom Come), embodies his Salesian mission to build God’s Kingdom through education and encounter, as seen in his 2024 Paris conference on Catholic schools in Islamic contexts and his 2023 leadership after Morocco’s earthquake.<ref name="web8">{{cite web |url=https://salesianbulletin.org/en/the-archbishop-of-rabat-cardinal-cristóbal-lópez-romero-sdb-in-paris-for-a-conference-on-dialogue-and-education-in-islamic-lands/ |title=The Archbishop of Rabat, Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, SDB, in Paris |publisher=Salesian Bulletin |date=2024-03-05 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> At 72, López Romero is one of 19 African cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, where he attended Pope Francis’ funeral and dismissed papabile speculation, humorously noting the papacy’s challenges deter ambition.<ref name="web15">{{cite web |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html |title=Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope |publisher=Vatican News |date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref><ref name="web22">{{cite web |url=https://www.h2foz.com.br/who-is-cardinal-cristóbal-lópez-romero-a-naturalized-paraguayan/ |title=Who is Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, a naturalized Paraguayan? |publisher=H2FOZ |date=2025-04-27 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>


Ordained a priest in 1990, Kambanda served as Bishop of Kibungo (2013–2018) before his appointment as Archbishop of Kigali, succeeding Thaddée Ntihinyurwa.<ref name="web2">{{cite web |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkamba.html |title=Antoine Cardinal Kambanda |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His tenure has included roles in the Dicastery for Evangelization (since 2023) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), where he has addressed migration and environmental concerns.<ref name="web1"/> In April 2025, Kambanda joined over 130 cardinals in Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral preparations, engaging in pre-conclave meetings to discuss the Church’s needs, including Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery and ecclesial challenges.<ref name="web15"/> His 2019 call for genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness and his 2024 leadership in Rwanda’s 30th genocide commemoration underscore his commitment to healing and justice.<ref name="web12"/>
A Salesian since his youth, López Romero served in Paraguay (1984–2002), Bolivia (2011–2014), and Morocco (2003–2010), holding roles such as provincial of Paraguay and Bolivia.<ref name="web1">{{cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_lópez-romero_c.html |title=Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B. |publisher=Vatican Press |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His ministry includes supporting the Al Mowafaqa Ecumenical Institute and hosting Pope Francis’ 2019 Morocco visit, which strengthened interfaith ties.<ref name="web12">{{cite web |url=https://cardinaux.la-croix.com/cristobal-lopez-romero/ |title=Cristóbal López Romero |publisher=La Croix |date=2020-11-27 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> A proponent of the Synod on Synodality, he joined its 2023 session in Rome, urging a Church that listens to the marginalized, and in April 2025, he participated in pre-conclave meetings in Rome, praising Francis’ legacy of openness and dialogue.<ref name="web23">{{cite web |url=https://mafrome.org/visit-from-cardinal-cristobal-lopez-romero/ |title=Visit from Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero |publisher=Missionaries of Africa |date=2023-10-26 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> His dual nationality, adopted after 18 years in Paraguay, reflects his global pastoral identity, which he emphasized in 2025 as a bridge for unity.<ref name="web22"/>


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Birth and early life===
===Birth and early life===
Antoine Kambanda was born on November 10, 1958, in Nyamata, Rwanda, to Théogène Ruberintwari and Immaculée Nyirabazungu.<ref name="web0"/> Raised in a Catholic family, he was the fourth of nine children, all but one of whom, along with his parents, were killed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.<ref name="web5">{{cite web |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-11/rwanda-s-first-cardinal-a-sign-of-hope-for-a-wounded-nation.html |title=Rwanda’s first Cardinal: a sign of hope for a wounded nation |publisher=Vatican News |date=2020-11-28 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> Educated at Saint Joseph’s Junior Seminary in Nyarutovu, he fled to Uganda during Rwanda’s pre-genocide unrest, completing secondary education at St. Mary’s College Kisubi.<ref name="web1"/> His experience as a refugee and genocide survivor shaped his ministry of reconciliation.<ref name="web12"/>
Cristóbal López Romero was born on May 19, 1952, in Vélez-Rubio, Almería, Spain, to Salvador López and his wife, in a modest rural family.<ref name="web0"/> At nine months, his family moved to Badalona, Barcelona, settling in a marginalized neighborhood without basic services, shaping his lifelong advocacy for the poor.<ref name="web12"/> At eight, he entered a Salesian school, where his First Communion became a pivotal moment, inspiring his vocation.<ref name="web12"/>


At age 20, Kambanda entered the Petit Séminaire Saint Pie X in Kigali, discerning a priestly vocation amidst Rwanda’s ethnic tensions.<ref name="web0"/> His early life fostered a commitment to unity, later evident in his episcopal leadership.<ref name="web5"/>
Joining the Salesian novitiate in Godelleta, Valencia, at 15, he took his first vows at 16, drawn to Don Bosco’s mission for youth.<ref name="web1"/> His early experiences in Spain’s working-class communities fostered his commitment to social justice.<ref name="web4"/>


===Education===
===Education===
Kambanda studied philosophy and theology at the Grand Séminaire de Nyakibanda in Rwanda from 1983 to 1989, earning a bachelor’s degree in theology.<ref name="web0"/> He pursued moral theology at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome from 1999 to 2002, obtaining a licentiate with a focus on reconciliation and forgiveness in post-conflict societies.<ref name="web1"/> His studies emphasized pastoral approaches to healing communal trauma.<ref name="web12"/>
López Romero studied philosophy (1973–1975) and theology (1975–1979) at Salesian seminaries in Girona and Barcelona, earning a bachelor’s degree in theology.<ref name="web0"/> In 1982, he completed a licentiate in information sciences (journalism) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, equipping him for evangelization through media.<ref name="web1"/> His studies emphasized Salesian values of education and dialogue.<ref name="web8"/>


Fluent in Kinyarwanda, French, English, and Italian, Kambanda’s education equipped him for leadership in Rwanda’s multilingual and post-genocide context.<ref name="web5"/> His Roman formation deepened his alignment with Vatican II’s call for social justice.<ref name="web12"/>
Fluent in Spanish, French, and conversant in Arabic (used in Morocco, though unconfirmed proficiency), his education supported ministry in diverse settings, from Paraguay to North Africa.<ref name="web4"/> His journalistic training enhanced his pastoral communication.<ref name="web12"/>


===Priesthood===
===Priesthood===
Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Kigali on September 8, 1990, by Archbishop Joseph Ruzindana in Mbare, Uganda, Kambanda served as a parish priest in Kigali and director of Caritas Kigali (1990–1993).<ref name="web0"/> He was academic dean and professor at the Grand Séminaire de Nyakibanda (1993–1999) and rector of seminaries in Kabgayi (2002–2006) and Nyakibanda (2006–2013).<ref name="web2"/> His ministry focused on education, charity, and fostering reconciliation post-genocide.<ref name="web5"/>
Ordained a Salesian priest on May 19, 1979, by Archbishop Emilio Benavent Escuín in Barcelona, López Romero ministered in La Verneda, Barcelona (1979–1984), serving marginalized youth.<ref name="web0"/> In 1984, he moved to Paraguay, spending 18 years as a youth pastor, educator, and Salesian provincial (1994–2000), founding the Association of Catholic Journalists of Paraguay.<ref name="web3">{{cite web |url=https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristóbal_López_Romero |title=Cristóbal López Romero |publisher=Wikipedia (Spanish) |date=2019-09-02 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> He adopted Paraguayan citizenship, reflecting his deep ties.<ref name="web22"/>


Kambanda’s priesthood included navigating Rwanda’s recovery, advocating for forgiveness, and supporting displaced persons, roles that earned him recognition as a unifying figure.<ref name="web12"/> His work with Caritas addressed poverty and ethnic division.<ref name="web1"/>
From 2003 to 2010, he led the Salesian community in Kénitra, Morocco, as parish priest and school director, later serving as provincial in Bolivia (2011–2014) and Spain (2014–2017).<ref name="web1"/> His priesthood focused on interfaith dialogue and migrant support.<ref name="web4"/>


===Bishop===
===Bishop===
Appointed Bishop of Kibungo on May 7, 2013, by Pope Francis, Kambanda was consecrated on July 28, 2013, by Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga.<ref name="web2"/> Named Archbishop of Kigali on November 19, 2018, he was installed on January 27, 2019.<ref name="web0"/> Elevated to cardinal on November 28, 2020, he received the titular church of San Sisto.<ref name="web1"/> He is the first Rwandan cardinal, a milestone praised by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente for Pope Francis’ recognition of Rwanda’s Church.<ref name="web12"/>
Appointed Archbishop of Rabat on December 29, 2017, by Pope Francis, López Romero was consecrated on March 10, 2018, by Cardinal Juan José Omella.<ref name="web2">{{cite web |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bloprc.html |title=Cristóbal Cardinal López Romero |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> Named Apostolic Administrator of Tangier on May 24, 2019, he was elevated to cardinal on October 5, 2019, assigned the titular church of San Leone I.<ref name="web1"/> He hosted Pope Francis’ 2019 Morocco visit, launching a diocesan synod for dialogue.<ref name="web4"/>


As archbishop, Kambanda has promoted interfaith dialogue, served in the Dicastery for Evangelization, and led Rwanda’s 2024 genocide commemorations.<ref name="web5"/> In 2025, he participated in Pope Francis’ funeral and pre-conclave meetings, discussing Rwanda’s history with Cardinal Vincent Nichols.<ref name="web15"/>
As archbishop, López Romero has championed interreligious harmony, supported migrants, and led recovery efforts after the 2023 Morocco earthquake.<ref name="web18">{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247708/cardinal-cristóbal-lópez-romero |title=Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero - Latest news |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=2021-06-04 |access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> In 2025, he joined Pope Francis’ funeral rites and pre-conclave meetings, advocating for a dialogical Church.<ref name="web15"/>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 62: Line 62:
! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
| Diocese of Kibungo
| Archdiocese of Rabat
| Bishop
| Archbishop
| 7 May 2013
| 29 December 2017
| 19 November 2018
| Present
| First episcopal appointment
| Elevated to cardinal in 2019
|-
|-
| Archdiocese of Kigali
| Archdiocese of Tangier
| Archbishop
| Apostolic Administrator
| 19 November 2018
| 24 May 2019
| Present
| Present
| First Rwandan cardinal, elevated in 2020
| Supports Morocco’s small Catholic community
|}
|}


==Significant events==
==Significant events==
* Entered Petit Séminaire Saint Pie X, 1978.<ref name="web0"/>
* Entered Salesian novitiate, 1967.<ref name="web0"/>
* Ordained priest for Archdiocese of Kigali, 1990.<ref name="web0"/>
* Took first Salesian vows, 1968.<ref name="web1"/>
* Survived Rwandan genocide, lost family, 1994.<ref name="web5"/>
* Ordained priest for Salesian Order, 1979.<ref name="web0"/>
* Earned licentiate in moral theology in Rome, 2002.<ref name="web1"/>
* Served in Paraguay, adopted nationality, 1984–2002.<ref name="web3"/>
* Appointed rector of Nyakibanda Seminary, 2006.<ref name="web0"/>
* Led Salesian community in Kénitra, Morocco, 2003–2010.<ref name="web1"/>
* Named Bishop of Kibungo, 2013.<ref name="web2"/>
* Appointed provincial of Bolivia, 2011–2014.<ref name="web1"/>
* Appointed Archbishop of Kigali, 2018.<ref name="web0"/>
* Named provincial of Spain, 2014–2017.<ref name="web1"/>
* Called for genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness, 2019.<ref name="web12"/>
* Appointed Archbishop of Rabat, 2017.<ref name="web2"/>
* Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2020.<ref name="web0"/>
* Hosted Pope Francis’ Morocco visit, 2019.<ref name="web4"/>
* Appointed to Dicastery for Evangelization, 2023.<ref name="web1"/>
* Named Apostolic Administrator of Tangier, 2019.<ref name="web1"/>
* Led Rwanda’s 30th genocide commemoration, 2024.<ref name="web12"/>
* Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2019.<ref name="web0"/>
* Participated in Pope Francis’ funeral preparations, 2025.<ref name="web15"/>
* Launched diocesan synod in Morocco, 2019.<ref name="web4"/>
* Participated in Synod on Synodality, 2023.<ref name="web23"/>
* Led response to Morocco earthquake, 2023.<ref name="web18"/>
* Spoke at Paris conference on education, 2024.<ref name="web8"/>
* Attended Pope Francis’ funeral and conclave preparations, 2025.<ref name="web15"/>


==Books==
==Books==


=== Written about the bishop ===
=== Written about the bishop ===
* No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Kambanda were identified.
* No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal López Romero were identified.


=== Written by the bishop ===
=== Written by the bishop ===
* No books authored by Cardinal Kambanda were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Archdiocese of Kigali, but no published books are documented.
* No books authored by Cardinal López Romero were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Archdiocese of Rabat, but no published books are documented.


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkamba.html Antoine Kambanda]
* [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bloprc.html Cristóbal López Romero]
* [https://www.archidiocese-kigali.org/cardinal-antoine-kambanda Biography of Cardinal Antoine Kambanda]
* [https://dioceserabat.org/s-em-le-cardinal-cristóbal-lópez-romero-sdb/ Biography of Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero]
* [https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_kambanda_a.html Vatican Biography of Cardinal Antoine Kambanda]
* [https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_lópez-romero_c.html Vatican Biography of Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}
Retrieved from "https://saintapedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/10696"

Navigation menu