Augusto Vargas Alzamora
Encyclopedia
Augusto Vargas Alzamora S.J.
was a Cardinal Priest and Archbishop
of Lima
in the Roman Catholic Church
.
He joined the Society of Jesus
in 1940. He studied at the Jesuit Philosophical Faculty in San Miguel
, Argentina
and Madrid
. He continued his studies in Granada
, Spain and the University of San Marcos, Lima
where he received his doctorate
in education. Pope Paul VI
appointed him titular bishop
of Cissi and apostolic vicar of Jaén, Peru
on 8 June 1978. In 1982 he was elected secretary general of the Episcopal Conference
of Peru, and was reelected twice more. He was to become its President from 1993 to 1999. He resigned the pastoral government of the vicariate in 1985. In 1989 Pope John Paul II
appointed him Archbishop of Lima
, where he stayed until he retired in 1999. Pope John Paul elevated him to the cardinalate in the consistory
of November 26, 1994, making him Cardinal Priest of S. Roberto Bellarmino. After he retired as Archbishop he continued until his death ministering at a homeless shelter he founded in Lima.
As Archbishop of Lima, he frequently clashed with Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori
, demanding that the President observe human rights and democratic forms, and, at a later stage, over the President's pushing of family planning programmes.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
was a Cardinal Priest and Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
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...
.
He joined the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in 1940. He studied at the Jesuit Philosophical Faculty in San Miguel
San Miguel, Buenos Aires
San Miguel is situated in the northwest region of Greater Buenos Aires, 30 km from the capital . It is the head town of the San Miguel Partido. Since the early 2000s its been a part of Greater Buenos Aires. According to the 2001 census the number of inhabitants was about 157.532...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. He continued his studies in Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, Spain and the University of San Marcos, Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
where he received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in education. Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
appointed him titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Cissi and apostolic vicar of Jaén, Peru
Apostolic Vicariate of Jaén en Peru
The Apostolic Vicariate of Jaén en Peru o San Francisco Javier is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the city of Jaén in Peru.-History:...
on 8 June 1978. In 1982 he was elected secretary general of the Episcopal Conference
Episcopal Conference
In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is an official assembly of all the bishops of a given territory...
of Peru, and was reelected twice more. He was to become its President from 1993 to 1999. He resigned the pastoral government of the vicariate in 1985. In 1989 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 ...
appointed him Archbishop of Lima
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lima is part of the Roman Catholic Church in Peru which enjoys full communion with the Holy See. The Archdiocese was founded as the Diocese of Lima on 14 May 1541. The diocese was raised to the level of a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Paul III on ...
, where he stayed until he retired in 1999. Pope John Paul elevated him to the cardinalate in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of November 26, 1994, making him Cardinal Priest of S. Roberto Bellarmino. After he retired as Archbishop he continued until his death ministering at a homeless shelter he founded in Lima.
As Archbishop of Lima, he frequently clashed with Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori served as President of Peru from 28 July 1990 to 17 November 2000. A controversial figure, Fujimori has been credited with the creation of Fujimorism, uprooting terrorism in Peru and restoring its macroeconomic stability, though his methods have drawn charges of...
, demanding that the President observe human rights and democratic forms, and, at a later stage, over the President's pushing of family planning programmes.