Adolfo Cardinal Suárez Rivera
Encyclopedia
Adolfo Antonio Suárez Rivera (b. 9 January 1927 in San Cristóbal de las Casas
, Chiapas
– d. 22 March 2008 in Monterrey
, Nuevo León
) was a Mexican
Cardinal Priest in the Roman Catholic Church
who also served as Bishop
of Tepic
, Tlalnepantla
and Archbishop of Monterrey
.
Suárez Rivera studied classical literature at the conciliar seminary of Chiapas in San Cristóbal, where he was ordained a priest in 1952, and then philosophy at the archdiocesan seminary of Xalapa
and the Pontifical Seminary of Montezuma in Montezuma, New Mexico
, in the United States
. After these studies, he completed a doctorate in theology
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
.
Suárez Rivera worked for about ten years as a professor of classical literature and philosophy at the diocesan seminary of San Cristóbal de las Casas, then was a department head and secretary in the Archdiocesan Curia. He advised the Christian Family Movement
and helped found the Union for Mutual Episcopal Aid in the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to serving as a parish priest.
In 1971, Suárez Rivera was named Bishop of Tepic
. From 1979 to 1983, he served as an adjunct member of the Congregation for Bishops
, and he was a delegate to the 1983 Sixth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Reconciliation and Penance.
From 8 November 1983 until 25 January 2003 he served as Archbishop of Monterrey
. He was made a cardinal
by Pope John Paul II
in the consistory of 26 November 1994, and given the title of Cardinal Priest of Nostra Signora di Guadalupe a Monte Mario.
Although eligible to vote in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI
, Suárez Rivera was one of only two cardinal electors unable to attend due to medical reasons (the other being Jaime Sin of the Philippines
).
The cardinal died on Holy Saturday
, 22 March 2008, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
San Cristóbal de las Casas also known as it's native Tsotsil name, Jovel is a city and municipality located in the Central Highlands region of the Mexican state of Chiapas...
, Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
– d. 22 March 2008 in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
) was a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Cardinal Priest in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
who also served as Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Tepic
Tepic
Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.It is located in the central part of the state, at.It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 meters, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco....
, Tlalnepantla
Tlalnepantla
Tlalnepantla could refer to one of two places in the Republic of Mexico:* Tlalnepantla de Baz, a town in the state of México.* Tlalnepantla, Morelos, a town and municipality in the state of Morelos....
and Archbishop of Monterrey
Archdiocese of Monterrey
The Archdiocese of Monterrey is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese located in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.The Archdiocese of Monterrey is a Metropolitan Archdiocese; its suffragans dioceses include the dioceses of Ciudad Valles, Ciudad Victoria, Linares, Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Piedras Negras,...
.
Suárez Rivera studied classical literature at the conciliar seminary of Chiapas in San Cristóbal, where he was ordained a priest in 1952, and then philosophy at the archdiocesan seminary of Xalapa
Xalapa
Xalapa-Enríquez, commonly Xalapa or Jalapa, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In the year 2005 census the city reported a population of 387,879 and the municipality of which it serves as municipal seat reported a population of...
and the Pontifical Seminary of Montezuma in Montezuma, New Mexico
Montezuma, New Mexico
Montezuma is an unincorporated community in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about five miles northwest of the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After these studies, he completed a doctorate in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Suárez Rivera worked for about ten years as a professor of classical literature and philosophy at the diocesan seminary of San Cristóbal de las Casas, then was a department head and secretary in the Archdiocesan Curia. He advised the Christian Family Movement
Christian Family Movement
The Christian Family Movement is a national movement of parish small groups of families that meet in one another’s homes to reinforce Christian values and actively encourage other fellow Christian parents through active involvement with others...
and helped found the Union for Mutual Episcopal Aid in the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to serving as a parish priest.
In 1971, Suárez Rivera was named Bishop of Tepic
Tepic
Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.It is located in the central part of the state, at.It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 meters, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco....
. From 1979 to 1983, he served as an adjunct member of the Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
, and he was a delegate to the 1983 Sixth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Reconciliation and Penance.
From 8 November 1983 until 25 January 2003 he served as Archbishop of Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
. He was made a cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in the consistory of 26 November 1994, and given the title of Cardinal Priest of Nostra Signora di Guadalupe a Monte Mario.
Although eligible to vote in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
, Suárez Rivera was one of only two cardinal electors unable to attend due to medical reasons (the other being Jaime Sin of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
).
The cardinal died on Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday , sometimes known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter...
, 22 March 2008, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.