Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Metropolitan Archbishop of Tegucicalpa (Honduras), turns 80 years old today and thus exits the roster of Cardinal electors in a future conclave: he was in fact born in Tegucigalpa on Dec. 29, 1942.
He entered the Salesians in 1961 and was ordained a priest on June 28, 1970 after graduating in philosophy in 1965 in El Salvador.
In Rome he obtained a degree in theology from the Pontifical Salesian Athenaeum and one in moral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University. In Austria, on the other hand, he earned degrees in clinical psychology and psychotherapy.
A musician, he taught sacred music and later served as rector of the Salesian Philosophical Institute in Guatemala from 1975 to 1978.
John Paul II elected him titular Bishop of Pudenziana and Auxiliary of Tegucigalpa on Oct. 28, 1978. He was Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Copán from 1981 to 1984.
Promoted Metropolitan Archbishop of Tegucigalpa on January 8, 1993, he was also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of San Pedro Sula between 1993 and 1995.
He served as Secretary General of the Honduran Bishops’ Conference from 1980 to 1998 and was President of the Honduran Bishops’ Conference from 1997 to 2016.
In CELAM, he was Secretary General from 1987 to 1991, Chairman of the Economic Committee from 1991 to 1995, and President from 1995 to 1999.
John Paul II created him Cardinal of Holy Roman Church in the consistory of Feb. 21, 2001, of the title of St. Mary of Hope.
From 2007 to 2015 he was president of Caritas Internationalis.
He took part in the Synods of 2008, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019,
He participated in the conclaves of 2005 and 2013 that elected Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, respectively.
On April 13, 2013, Pope Francis appointed him Coordinating Member of the Council of Cardinals for the Reform of the Roman Curia. He is considered one of the Cardinals closest to and most listened to by Pope Francis.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News.
