Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri Explained

Type:Cardinal
Honorific-Prefix:His Eminence
Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri
Bishop of Huehuetenango
Church:Latin Church
Diocese:Huehuetenango
See:Huehuetenango
Appointed:May 14, 2012
Enthroned:July 14, 2012
Predecessor:Rodolfo Francisco Bobadilla Mata
Other Post:Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni Evangelista a Spinaceto (2019-)
Ordination:June 27, 1971
Ordained By:Mario Casariego y Acevedo
Consecration:January 6, 1989
Consecrated By:Pope John Paul II
Cardinal:October 5, 2019
Created Cardinal By:Pope Francis
Rank:Cardinal-Priest
Birth Name:Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri
Birth Date:16 July 1947
Birth Place:Guatemala City, Guatemala
Previous Post:Bishop of San Marcos (1988-2012)
Motto:Spanish; Castilian: Ay de mí si no evangelizo
(Woe is me if I do not proclaim the Gospel), 9:16
Coat Of Arms:Coat of arms Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri.png
Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri
Dipstyle:His Eminence
Offstyle:Your Eminence
Relstyle:Monsignor

Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri (born July 16, 1947) is a Guatemalan prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the Bishop of Huehuetenango since 2012. He was the Bishop of San Marcos from 1988 to 2012.

Pope Francis raised him to the rank of cardinal on 5 October 2019.

Biography

Ramazzini was born in Guatemala City, and he was ordained to the presbyterate on June 27, 1971, for service to the Archdiocese of Guatemala.[1] He earned a Doctor of Canon Law (J.C.D.) at the Pontifical Gregorian University at the Vatican in Rome. He was a Professor and Rector of the Major Seminary of Guatemala and Pastor of one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Guatemala. On December 15, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed then-Father Ramazzini as the Bishop of San Marcos. He was consecrated by the Pope on January 6, 1989. The principal co-consecrators were Archbishops Edward Idris Cassidy and José Tomás Sánchez.

As a priest and bishop Ramazzini has been involved in social justice issues, especially in the area of protecting the rights of indigenous people.[2] He has fought against multinational corporations who come to Guatemala for its mineral wealth while destroying the countryside.[3] Bishop Ramazzini has empowered the poor and marginalized and fostered civil courage to fight against the injustice they experience. He has received many death threats because of his work, and has received official letters of support from the Holy See and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.[3]

In 2005 Ramazzini received the Konrad Lorenz Award. The same year he testified before the International Relations Sub-committee on the Western Hemisphere of the United States House of Representatives. He was elected as the President of the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala in 2006. In 2011 he received the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, in honor of his social justice work.[3]

Ramazzini has held many positions in the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala and chaired the Commission for Social Communications and the Commission for Prison Ministry.

Ramazzini participated in the CELAM Assembly in Aparecida, Brazil, in 2007, and before that, at the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops in 1997.

On 14 May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Ramazzini Bishop of Huehuetenango as he accepted the resignation offered by Bishop Rodolfo Francisco Bobadilla Mata, C.M.[4]

On 5 October 2019, Pope Francis made him Cardinal Priest of San Giovanni Evangelista a Spinaceto.[5] He was made a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life on 21 February 2020[6] and of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on 20 April 2020.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bishop Alvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri . Catholic-Hierarchy . 2011-10-02.
  2. Web site: Bishop humbled by Pacem in Terris . . 1 October 2011 . 2011-10-02. McChesney . Rashah .
  3. Web site: Guatemalan bishop to receive Pacem in Terris award. The Catholic Messenger . 10 August 2011 . 2 October 2011 . Arland-Fye . Rarb .
  4. Rinunce e Nomine, 14.05.2012. it . 5 October 2019 . 14 May 2012 . Holy See Press Office .
  5. 5 October 2019 . 5 October 2019 . Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli, 05.10.2019 . it . Holy See Press Office .
  6. Holy See Press Office . 3 March 2020 . it . Rinunce e nomine, 21.02.2020 . 21 February 2020 .
  7. Holy See Press Office . 20 April 2020 . Resignations and Appointments, 20.04.2020 . 20 March 2020 .