John Njue
Encyclopedia
John Njue is a Kenya
n Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the fourth and current Archbishop of Nairobi, having previously served as Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri (2002–2007) and Bishop of Embu (1986–2002). He was elevated to the cardinalate
in 2007.
, Kenya
, to Joseph Nyanga Kibariki and Monica Ngina Nyaga. He was baptized
in 1948, and entered the minor seminary
in Nkubu in 1962. From 1967 to 1974, he furthered his studies in Rome
at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
(where he obtained a licentiate
in philosophy
) and Pontifical Lateran University
(licentiate in pastoral theology
).
On January 6, 1973, Njue was ordained
to the priesthood
by Pope Paul VI
in St. Peter's Basilica
. Returning to Kenya in October 1974, he did pastoral work in Kariakomu in the southern district
of Meru
. He also taught philosophy at the National Seminary of Bungoma, of which he later served as rector
from 1978 to 1982. In 1982, he completed a course in spirituality in the United States
. He then served as a parish priest
in Chuka
and rector of the Philosophical Seminary of Meru.
On June 9, 1986, Njue was appointed Bishop of Embu by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following September 20 from Jozef Cardinal Tomko, the co-consecrators
being Bishops Silas Silvius Njiru and Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki. He served as President
of the Kenyan Episcopal Conference
from 1997 to 2003, and was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri on January 23, 2002. Following the murder of Bishop Luigi Locati
, he served as Apostolic Administrator
of Isolo
from 2005 to 2006.
Njue was appointed Archbishop of Nairobi on October 6, 2007, and was installed
on the following November 1. Shortly afterwards, he was created Cardinal Priest
of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo by Pope Benedict XVI
in the consistory
of November 24, 2007.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n 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...
of 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 is the fourth and current Archbishop of Nairobi, having previously served as Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri (2002–2007) and Bishop of Embu (1986–2002). He was elevated to the cardinalate
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...
in 2007.
Biography
Njue was born in EmbuEmbu, Kenya
Embu is a town located approximately northeast of Nairobi towards Mount Kenya. Embu serves as the provincial headquarters of Eastern Province in Kenya and is also the district headquarters of Embu District. Located on the southeastern slopes of Mount Kenya, the town of Embu has a population of...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, to Joseph Nyanga Kibariki and Monica Ngina Nyaga. He was baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
in 1948, and entered the minor seminary
Minor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
in Nkubu in 1962. From 1967 to 1974, he furthered his studies 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...
at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
(where he obtained a licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
) and Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
(licentiate in pastoral theology
Pastoral theology
Pastoral theology is the branch of practical theology concerned with the application of the study of religion in the context of regular church ministry. This approach to theology seeks to give practical expression to theology...
).
On January 6, 1973, Njue was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by 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...
in St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
. Returning to Kenya in October 1974, he did pastoral work in Kariakomu in the southern district
Meru South District
Meru South District is one of the seventy-one districts of Kenya, located in that country's Eastern Province. In 1992, it was split from the large Meru District, along with Meru Central District, Meru North District, and Tharaka District....
of Meru
Meru, Kenya
-Transport:The City of Meru is linked to Nairobi by a paved road, whether from the south around the east side of Mount Kenya, via Embu, or from the northwest around the west and north side of Mount Kenya, via Nanyuki and Timau....
. He also taught philosophy at the National Seminary of Bungoma, of which he later served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
from 1978 to 1982. In 1982, he completed a course in spirituality in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He then served as a parish priest
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in Chuka
Chuka, Kenya
Chuka is a town in Meru South District of Kenya about 70Km South Of Meru Town. It falls within Eastern Province and the people of the area are Kimeru speaking. It is on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya....
and rector of the Philosophical Seminary of Meru.
On June 9, 1986, Njue was appointed Bishop of Embu 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 ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following September 20 from Jozef Cardinal Tomko, the co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
being Bishops Silas Silvius Njiru and Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki. He served as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Kenyan 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...
from 1997 to 2003, and was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri on January 23, 2002. Following the murder of Bishop Luigi Locati
Luigi Locati
Luigi Locati was an Italian Catholic missionary and bishop. He was shot to death at the pastoral center of Isiolo, Kenya. Two priests Cyril Mukuchia and Peter Malley Guyo Wako were arrested in connection to his murder....
, he served as Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of Isolo
Vicariate Apostolic of Isiolo
The Apostolic Vicariate of Isiolo in Kenya was created on December 15, 1995, when it was split off from the Diocese of Meru. It has headquarters in the Isiolo town....
from 2005 to 2006.
Njue was appointed Archbishop of Nairobi on October 6, 2007, and was installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
on the following November 1. Shortly afterwards, he was created Cardinal Priest
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...
of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo by 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...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of November 24, 2007.