Juan Landázuri Ricketts
Encyclopedia
Juan Landázuri Ricketts (December 19, 1913, Arequipa, Peru – January 16, 1997, Lima, Peru) was one of the most prominent Roman Catholic Church
men during the 1960s and 1970s in Latin America. This was a period in which the Church was compelled to take a strong stand on human rights abuses by numerous military
junta
s and also concerning problems of extreme poverty and wealth inequality. Before he turned 80 on December 19, 1993, Juan Landázuri Ricketts was the last Cardinal
elevated by Pope John XXIII
to retain voting rights in a papal conclave
.
, Landázuri Ricketts joined the Order of Friars Minor in 1937 (taking the name Juan) and became a priest two years later. His ability as a priest was immediately noticed and he became secretary to the general delegation of his order as early as 1943. After finishing his theological studies in 1949, he was briefly a faculty member of the Franciscan Theological Seminary in Puerto Ocopa
, but his status within the wider Church was increasing rapidly and he became the general definitor of the Order of Friars Minor by 1951.
of Roina and was chosen in 1955 to replace the deceased Juan Gualberto Guevara as Archbishop of Lima. His appointment coincided with the a radically modernising military dictatorship under Manuel Odria - which they were to hold on and off until 1980. As Archbishop, he collaborated with these efforts for sweeping agricultural and institutional reforms aimed at taking Peru into the modern world and developing its great economic potential, because he felt strongly that these would improve social conditions in the country. By 1962 he had become Primate of Peru and was made a Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Aracoeli
by Pope John XXIII
in June 1962. He made great efforts, aided by the Jesuits in Peru, to consolidate the vast archive
s of the Lima Archdiocese that had accumulated ever since European colonisation of Latin America.
and resistance to the military dictatorship under Ricardo Perez Godoy
ruling Peru. Landázuri Ricketts responded to this with considerable support, trying his best to ensure that laity and nuns had considerable say in local decision-making. He became a major participant as Acting President in the 1968 Medellin Conference and was elected as the leader of local episcopal conference almost without opposition until he reached the age of 75 in 1988.
During this period, in accordance with his Franciscan
ideals, Landázuri Ricketts also left the Archbishop's palace and moved into a small house in a working-class area of Lima. Although Landázuri Ricketts served on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
during the 1970s, his relationship with the Vatican soured after the ascension of John Paul II as that pope aimed to deal with the problem the Vatican believed to be posed by liberation theology
. Despite being an extremely respected prelate, he was not able to stem the tide of Opus Dei
bishops and sympathisers appointed in Peru during the 1980s and 1990s, and his advancing age led him to resign his role as head of the South American Bishops' conference in 1989.
He retired from the episcopate in 1990 and was succeeded by Augusto Vargas Alzamora
. After his death in 1997 he was accused by the next Archbishop of Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne of having committed "immoral behaviour" while in office. The charge was not taken seriously either inside or outside the Vatican.
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...
men during the 1960s and 1970s in Latin America. This was a period in which the Church was compelled to take a strong stand on human rights abuses by numerous military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
junta
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
s and also concerning problems of extreme poverty and wealth inequality. Before he turned 80 on December 19, 1993, Juan Landázuri Ricketts was the last 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...
elevated by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
to retain voting rights in a papal conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
.
Early life
Born as Guillermo Eduardo Landázuri Ricketts in ArequipaArequipa
Arequipa is the capital city of the Arequipa Region in southern Peru. With a population of 836,859 it is the second most populous city of the country...
, Landázuri Ricketts joined the Order of Friars Minor in 1937 (taking the name Juan) and became a priest two years later. His ability as a priest was immediately noticed and he became secretary to the general delegation of his order as early as 1943. After finishing his theological studies in 1949, he was briefly a faculty member of the Franciscan Theological Seminary in Puerto Ocopa
Satipo Province
Satipo is the largest and easternmost province in the Junín Region, located in the central Amazon rainforest of Peru. Its capital is the town of Satipo.-Boundaries:...
, but his status within the wider Church was increasing rapidly and he became the general definitor of the Order of Friars Minor by 1951.
Archbisop of Lima
The following year, Landázuri Ricketts was appointed titular bishopTitular 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 Roina and was chosen in 1955 to replace the deceased Juan Gualberto Guevara as Archbishop of Lima. His appointment coincided with the a radically modernising military dictatorship under Manuel Odria - which they were to hold on and off until 1980. As Archbishop, he collaborated with these efforts for sweeping agricultural and institutional reforms aimed at taking Peru into the modern world and developing its great economic potential, because he felt strongly that these would improve social conditions in the country. By 1962 he had become Primate of Peru and was made a Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is a titular basilica in Rome, located on the highest summit of the Campidoglio. It is still the designated Church of the city council of Rome, which uses the ancient title of Senatus Populusque Romanus...
by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
in June 1962. He made great efforts, aided by the Jesuits in Peru, to consolidate the vast archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
s of the Lima Archdiocese that had accumulated ever since European colonisation of Latin America.
Liberation theology
The following period saw Landázuri Ricketts have to contend with the rapid development of liberation theologyLiberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
and resistance to the military dictatorship under Ricardo Perez Godoy
Ricardo Pérez Godoy
Ricardo Pío Pérez Godoy was a general of the Peruvian army who launched a coup d'état in July 1962 and headed a military junta until March 1963....
ruling Peru. Landázuri Ricketts responded to this with considerable support, trying his best to ensure that laity and nuns had considerable say in local decision-making. He became a major participant as Acting President in the 1968 Medellin Conference and was elected as the leader of local episcopal conference almost without opposition until he reached the age of 75 in 1988.
During this period, in accordance with his Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
ideals, Landázuri Ricketts also left the Archbishop's palace and moved into a small house in a working-class area of Lima. Although Landázuri Ricketts served on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is a dicastery of the Roman Curia, erected by Pope Paul VI on 19 May 1964 as the Secretariat for Non-Christians, and renamed by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988....
during the 1970s, his relationship with the Vatican soured after the ascension of John Paul II as that pope aimed to deal with the problem the Vatican believed to be posed by liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
. Despite being an extremely respected prelate, he was not able to stem the tide of Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
bishops and sympathisers appointed in Peru during the 1980s and 1990s, and his advancing age led him to resign his role as head of the South American Bishops' conference in 1989.
He retired from the episcopate in 1990 and was succeeded by Augusto Vargas Alzamora
Augusto Vargas Alzamora
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...
. After his death in 1997 he was accused by the next Archbishop of Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne of having committed "immoral behaviour" while in office. The charge was not taken seriously either inside or outside the Vatican.
External links
- The Church and the Military
- http://thefarsight2.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-know.html Picture of Cardinal Landázuri Ricketts in Franciscan cappa magna