Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri
Encyclopedia
Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri (born July 16, 1947) is a bishop
of the Catholic Church in Guatemala
. He has served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of San Marcos
since 1988.
and he was ordained a priest on June 27, 1971. On December 15, 1988 Blessed John Paul II appointed Father Ramazzini as the Bishop of San Marcos. He was ordained a bishop by the Holy Father on January 6, 1989. The co-consecrators were Archbishops Edward Idris Cassidy and José Tomás Sánchez.
As a priest and bishop he has been involved in social justice issues, especially in the area of protecting the rights of indigenous people. He has fought against multinational corporations who come to Guatemala for its mineral wealth while destroying the countryside. 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
.
In 2005 Bishop 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 the president of the Guatemala Episcopal Conference in 2006. In 2011 he received the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
in honor of his social justice work.
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 the Catholic Church in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. He has served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of San Marcos
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Marcos
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Marcos is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Los Altos Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán.-Ordinaries:*Celestino Miguel Fernández Pérez, O.F.M. *Próspero Penados del Barrio...
since 1988.
Biography
Ramazzini was born in Guatemala CityGuatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
and he was ordained a priest on June 27, 1971. On December 15, 1988 Blessed John Paul II appointed Father Ramazzini as the Bishop of San Marcos. He was ordained a bishop by the Holy Father on January 6, 1989. The co-consecrators were Archbishops Edward Idris Cassidy and José Tomás Sánchez.
As a priest and bishop he has been involved in social justice issues, especially in the area of protecting the rights of indigenous people. He has fought against multinational corporations who come to Guatemala for its mineral wealth while destroying the countryside. 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
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
.
In 2005 Bishop 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
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He was elected the president of the Guatemala Episcopal Conference in 2006. In 2011 he received the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
Pacem in Terris Award
The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award is a Catholic peace award which has been given annually since 1964, in commemoration of the 1963 encyclical letter "Pacem in Terris" of Pope John XXIII...
in honor of his social justice work.