Adalberto Almeida y Merino
Encyclopedia
Adalberto Almeida y Merino (Bachíniva
, Chihuahua, June 6, 1916 - Chihuahua, Chihuahua, June 21, 2008) was a Mexican
prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Tulancingo
, 1956–1962; Bishop of Zacatecas
, 1962–1969 and Archbishop of Chihuahua
, 1969 - 1991.
, Chihuahua, the son of Luis Almeida Alderete and María Merino Sáenz. He received his early schooling in his home village before entering the Conciliar Seminary of Chihuahua in 1930, motivated by his parish priest, Vicente Hurtado Saldaña, who had asked for his admittance to the then Archbishop of Chihuahua Antonio Guízar y Valencia
.
, San Luis Potosí
y Veracruz
. He also attended the Pontifical Gregorian University
where he graduated in Philosophy, Dogmatic Theology and Canon Law. He was ordained on April 23, 1943 at the Church of the Gesu
in Rome
by Mons. Luigi Traglia. In 1946 he returned to Chihuahua where he taught at the Conciliar Seminary.
, succeeding Miguel Darío Miranda y Gómez
(who in turn was appointed Archbishop of Mexico
), and taking charge of one of the poorest bishopric
s in Mexico
at that time. He was consecrated bishop on August 14, 1956 by Mons. Guízar of Chihuahua, who had earlier been responsible for his admittance to the seminary. Pope John XXIII appointed him in 1962, just before convening the Second Vatican Council
, as the ninth Bishop of Zacatecas
. During his bishopric he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
, and celebrated the centennial of the Diocese. On August 24, 1969, Pope Paul VI appointed him second Archbishop of Chihuahua
. Through his adaptation of the Social Christian Doctrine as elaborated by the Second Vatican Council
, he actively evangelized the less fortunate members of society, and established the permanent Diaconate in the archdiocese. He is also noted as having increased substantially priestly vocations, the establishment of new religious orders, and the founding of new parishes within Chihuahua. He resigned in 1991, becoming Archbishop Emeritus on June 24 during the celebrations of the centennial of the erection of the Diocese.
and ministering to the faithful until his death at age 92 on June 21, 2008. He is buried in the crypt
of the Cathedral of Chihuahua
.
Bachíniva
Bachíniva is a town in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. It was founded by Franciscan missionaries on 8 September 1660 as Santa María de Nativitas de Bachimba....
, Chihuahua, June 6, 1916 - Chihuahua, Chihuahua, June 21, 2008) 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...
prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Tulancingo
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tulancingo
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tulancingo is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico. The Archdiocese comprises the province of Hidalgo, and the archepiscopal see is located in the Mexican city of Tulancingo...
, 1956–1962; Bishop of Zacatecas
Roman Catholic Diocese of Zacatecas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Zacatecas is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Luis Potosí. It was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara until 25 November 2006.-Ordinaries:*Ignacio Mateo Guerra y Alba...
, 1962–1969 and Archbishop of Chihuahua
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chihuahua
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chihuahua is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico.-Early history:Erected in 1891 from the Diocese of Durango, the diocese consisted of the State of Chihuahua in its entirety...
, 1969 - 1991.
Early life
He was born on June 6, 1916 in the village of BachínivaBachíniva
Bachíniva is a town in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. It was founded by Franciscan missionaries on 8 September 1660 as Santa María de Nativitas de Bachimba....
, Chihuahua, the son of Luis Almeida Alderete and María Merino Sáenz. He received his early schooling in his home village before entering the Conciliar Seminary of Chihuahua in 1930, motivated by his parish priest, Vicente Hurtado Saldaña, who had asked for his admittance to the then Archbishop of Chihuahua Antonio Guízar y Valencia
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chihuahua
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chihuahua is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico.-Early history:Erected in 1891 from the Diocese of Durango, the diocese consisted of the State of Chihuahua in its entirety...
.
Priesthood
He attended several seminaries: Chihuahua, DurangoDurango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
, San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
y Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. He also attended 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...
where he graduated in Philosophy, Dogmatic Theology and Canon Law. He was ordained on April 23, 1943 at the Church of the Gesu
Church of the Gesu
The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. Officially named , its facade is "the first truly baroque façade", introducing the baroque style into architecture ,. The church served as model for innumerable Jesuit...
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...
by Mons. Luigi Traglia. In 1946 he returned to Chihuahua where he taught at the Conciliar Seminary.
Episcopate
On May 28, 1956, Almeida was appointed by Pope Pius XII Bishop of TulancingoRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Tulancingo
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tulancingo is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico. The Archdiocese comprises the province of Hidalgo, and the archepiscopal see is located in the Mexican city of Tulancingo...
, succeeding Miguel Darío Miranda y Gómez
Miguel Darío Miranda y Gómez
Miguel Darío Miranda y Gómez was a Mexican Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Mexico City from 1956 to 1977, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969.-Biography:...
(who in turn was appointed Archbishop of Mexico
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico is a metropolitan diocese, responsible for the suffragan Dioceses of Atlacomulco, Cuernavaca, Toluca and Tenancingo. It was elevated on February 12, 1546....
), and taking charge of one of the poorest bishopric
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s in Mexico
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...
at that time. He was consecrated bishop on August 14, 1956 by Mons. Guízar of Chihuahua, who had earlier been responsible for his admittance to the seminary. Pope John XXIII appointed him in 1962, just before convening the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, as the ninth Bishop of Zacatecas
Roman Catholic Diocese of Zacatecas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Zacatecas is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Luis Potosí. It was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara until 25 November 2006.-Ordinaries:*Ignacio Mateo Guerra y Alba...
. During his bishopric he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, and celebrated the centennial of the Diocese. On August 24, 1969, Pope Paul VI appointed him second Archbishop of Chihuahua
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chihuahua
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chihuahua is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico.-Early history:Erected in 1891 from the Diocese of Durango, the diocese consisted of the State of Chihuahua in its entirety...
. Through his adaptation of the Social Christian Doctrine as elaborated by the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, he actively evangelized the less fortunate members of society, and established the permanent Diaconate in the archdiocese. He is also noted as having increased substantially priestly vocations, the establishment of new religious orders, and the founding of new parishes within Chihuahua. He resigned in 1991, becoming Archbishop Emeritus on June 24 during the celebrations of the centennial of the erection of the Diocese.
Later years
Mons. Almeida remained a beloved figure and active in the archdiocese after his retirement, celebrating daily MassMass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
and ministering to the faithful until his death at age 92 on June 21, 2008. He is buried in the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of the Cathedral of Chihuahua
Cathedral of Chihuahua
The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Regla, and St Francis of Assisi is the main ecclesiastical building of the Catholic Church in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. It is considered perhaps the finest example of colonial architecture in northern Mexico and dates from 1725....
.