José María Caro
Encyclopedia
José María Caro Rodríguez (Pichilemu
, June 23, 1866 – December 4, 1958) was a Chile
an Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Archbishop of Santiago
from 1939 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate
in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.
, Pichilemu
, as the fourth of the nine children of José María Caro Martínez
and his wife Rita Rodríguez Cornejo. After attending a local school, he entered the seminary
in Santiago
in 1881. Caro then went to Rome
in 1887, studying at the Pontifical Collegio Pio-Latinoamericano and the Pontifical Gregorian University
until 1891. Ordained
to the priesthood
on December 20, 1890, he returned to Chile
in October 1891 and then taught preparatory studies and philosophy
at the Santiago seminary.
in several chaplain
cies, hospital
s and parishes
, also serving as pastor
of Mamiña
from March to December 1899. He returned to the seminary in 1900 as Professor
of Theology
.
of Tarapacá on May 6, 1911, Caro was made Titular Bishop
of Mylasa in association with the vicariate on January 5, 1912. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following April 28 from Archbishop Enrico Sibilia
, with Bishops Luis Izquierdo Vargas and Miguel Claro Vásquez serving as co-consecrators
, in the metropolitan
cathedral
of Santiago.
Caro was later named Bishop
of La Serena on December 14, 1925, and was advanced to the rank of Archbishop
upon his diocese
's elevation on May 20, 1939. On August 28 of that same year, Pope Pius XII
made him Archbishop of Santiago
and thus Primate
of the Church in Chile
.
As a bishop, Caro was strongly opposed to the influence of Freemasonry
in modern society and wrote several anti-Masonic pamphlets. One of the best known being The Mystery of Freemasonry Unveiled.
of S. Maria della Scala
by Pius XII in the consistory
of February 18, 1946. Caro, the first Chilean member of the College of Cardinals
, served as papal legate
to the Chilean Plenary Council on September 8, 1946, tenth National Eucharistic Congress
on September 26, 1951, and later to the sixth Interamerican Congress of Catholic Education on August 30, 1956. Before participating
in the 1958 papal conclave
, Caro attended the first general conference of the Latin American Episcopal Conference
in Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
, in 1955.
crypt
of the Santiago Cathedral, but his remains were later moved to a funeral chapel
at the back of the cathedral's central nave
on March 19, 1968.
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
, June 23, 1866 – December 4, 1958) was a Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an 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 served as Archbishop of Santiago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile is part of the Roman Catholic Church in Chile. The current Archbishop is Ricardo Ezzati Andrello...
from 1939 until his death, and 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 1946 by Pope Pius XII.
Early life and ordination
José Caro Rodríguez was born in CahuilCáhuil
Cáhuil is a Chilean village located south of Pichilemu, in the outfall of Nilahue Lake, in the O'Higgins Region. Cáhuil means "seagull's place" in Mapudungun language. The economy is based on the production of coastal salt, oysters, and choros...
, Pichilemu
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
, as the fourth of the nine children of José María Caro Martínez
José María Caro Martínez
José María Caro Martínez was a Chilean politician, Mayor of Pichilemu from 1894 until 1905 and is mostly known for being the father of José María Caro Rodríguez, first Chilean Cardinal of the Catholic Church.- References :...
and his wife Rita Rodríguez Cornejo. After attending a local school, he entered the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
in 1881. Caro then went to 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...
in 1887, studying at the Pontifical Collegio Pio-Latinoamericano and 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...
until 1891. 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....
on December 20, 1890, he returned to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in October 1891 and then taught preparatory studies and 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...
at the Santiago seminary.
Pastoral work
Caro carried out his pastoral ministryPastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
in several chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
cies, hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s and parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
, also serving as pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Mamiña
Mamiña
Mamiña is a small village located east from Iquique at 2800 metres above sea level in the foothills of Los Andes Mountain range in northern Chile. Famous for its many hot springs that reach surface at 70 Cº, which are claimed to be beneficial for skin and bones. It has some hotels and hostels and...
from March to December 1899. He returned to the seminary in 1900 as Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of 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...
.
Bishop
Appointed Apostolic VicarApostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
of Tarapacá on May 6, 1911, Caro was made 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 Mylasa in association with the vicariate on January 5, 1912. 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 April 28 from Archbishop Enrico Sibilia
Enrico Sibilia
Enrico Sibilia was an Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal and former Nuncio to Austria.He was born in Anagni...
, with Bishops Luis Izquierdo Vargas and Miguel Claro Vásquez serving as 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...
, in the metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Santiago.
Caro was later named Bishop
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....
of La Serena on December 14, 1925, and was advanced to the rank of 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...
upon his diocese
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 elevation on May 20, 1939. On August 28 of that same year, Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
made him Archbishop of Santiago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile is part of the Roman Catholic Church in Chile. The current Archbishop is Ricardo Ezzati Andrello...
and thus Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of the Church in Chile
Roman Catholicism in Chile
The Catholic Church in Chile is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and the Chilean Bishops Conference....
.
As a bishop, Caro was strongly opposed to the influence of Freemasonry
Anticlericalism and Freemasonry
The question of whether Freemasonry is Anticlerical is the subject of debate. The Catholic Church has long been an outspoken critic of Freemasonry, and Catholic scholars have often accused the fraternity of anticlericalism. The Catholic Church forbids its members to join any masonic society under...
in modern society and wrote several anti-Masonic pamphlets. One of the best known being The Mystery of Freemasonry Unveiled.
Cardinal
He was created Cardinal PriestCardinal (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 S. Maria della Scala
Santa Maria della Scala
Santa Maria della Scala is a titular church in Rome, found in the Trastevere neighborhood.-History:The church was built to honor a miraculous icon of the Madonna. Tradition holds that the icon, when placed on the landing of a staircase of a neighboring house of a mother who prayed before it, had...
by Pius XII in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of February 18, 1946. Caro, the first Chilean member of the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
, served as papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to the Chilean Plenary Council on September 8, 1946, tenth National Eucharistic Congress
International Eucharistic Congress
In the Roman Catholic church, a Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is an important Roman Catholic doctrine...
on September 26, 1951, and later to the sixth Interamerican Congress of Catholic Education on August 30, 1956. Before participating
Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 1958
The following were the cardinal electors in the 1958 papal conclave. Arranged by region , and within each alphabetically...
in the 1958 papal conclave
Papal conclave, 1958
The Papal conclave of 1958 occurred following the death of Pope Pius XII on 9 October 1958 in Castel Gandolfo, after a 19-year pontificate. The conclave to elect his successor commenced on 25 October and ended three days later, on 28 October, after eleven ballots. The cardinal electors chose Angelo...
, Caro attended the first general conference of the Latin American Episcopal Conference
Latin American Episcopal Conference
The Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano , also known as CELAM, is a conference of the Roman Catholic bishops of Latin America, created in 1955 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil....
in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in 1955.
Death
Caro died in Santiago, at age 92, as the eldest member of the College of Cardinals. He was initially buried in the archiepiscopalArchbishop
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...
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 Santiago Cathedral, but his remains were later moved to a funeral chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
at the back of the cathedral's central nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
on March 19, 1968.