Robert Sarah
Encyclopedia
Robert Sarah is a Guinean Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church; he is the current President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 7 October 2010. He had previously served as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
. Cardinal Sarah can fluently speak French, English and Italian.
Cardinal Sarah was born in 1945 in Republic of Guinea. Initial studies in Ourous; in 1957, he entered the Seminary of Bingerville, Ivory Coast. On 2 October 1958, Guinea
became independent after the referendum of 28 September. The Guinean seminarists who were studying in Bingerville, returned to the new country and entered the Seminary of Dixinn in 1960, but only for a year because on 15 August 1961, the Democratic Party of Guinea nationalised all the private Catholic schools including the Seminary of Dixinn. After staying in their respective parishes, the seminarians, including Sarah, gathered at the locals of the parish of Sainte Croix, Kindia, waiting for the opening of the Seminary Jean XXIII, situated 135 kilometers from Conakry
.
After obtaining a baccalaureate in 1964, young Sarah was sent to France to study at the Grand Seminary of Nancy. But because of the political relations between France and Guinea, he had to go to Sébikotane, Sénégal
, to finish his theological formation. Later that year he was sent to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University
, Rome, where he obtained a licentiate
in theology; and at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem, where he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Scriptures. Sarah returned to Guinea in 1974.
Sarah was ordained to the priesthood on 20 July 1969 at the age of 24. Then-Father Sarah was incardinated in the diocese of Conakry. He was appointed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Conakry on 13 August 1979 by Pope John Paul II
at the age of 34. He received his episcopal consecration
on 8 December 1979 by Cardinal Giovanni Benelli. Archbishop Sarah served as the ordinary
of the Archdiocese of Conakry until his appointment by Pope John Paul II as the Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on 1 October 2001.
On 1 September 2010 Archbishop Sarah criticised Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi
’s call for Islam to become the religion of all of Europe, labelling it disrespectful to the Pope and Catholic Italy. Archbishop Sarah said that “To speak of the European continent converting to Islam makes no sense because it is the people alone who decide consciously to be Christian, Muslim or to follow other religions,”.
Archbishop Sarah was appointed as the President of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" replacing Cardinal Paul Cordes who's resignation had been accepted due to age. Cardinal Cordes had served as president since 1995. Archbishop Sarah, in his new role, was charged with orgainsing Catholic relief around the world. Then-Archbishop Sarah became the second African appointed by Pope Benedict to lead a Vatican dicastary after Cardinal Peter Turkson (who had previously been the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana) was appointed as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
in 2009. They follow in the footsteps of three other Cardinals who had significant impacts at the Vatican: Cardinal Bernardin Gantin (who as Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
was the highest-ranking modern Catholic African), Cardinal Francis Arinze, and the first African Cardinal and close friend of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa.
On 20 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
created and proclaimed him Cardinal-Deacon of San Giovanni Bosco in via Tuscolana. He will have voting rights in papal conclave
s until his 80th birthday. On 29 December 2010, Cardinal Sarah was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
, Pontifical Council for the Laity
and Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
.
Pontifical Council Cor Unum
The Pontifical Council Cor Unum for Human and Christian Development is a part of the Curia of the Catholic Church. It was established by Pope Paul VI on 15 July 1971 and is based in the Palazzo San Callisto, in Piazza San Callisto, Rome....
since his appointment 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...
on 7 October 2010. He had previously served as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
. Cardinal Sarah can fluently speak French, English and Italian.
Cardinal Sarah was born in 1945 in Republic of Guinea. Initial studies in Ourous; in 1957, he entered the Seminary of Bingerville, Ivory Coast. On 2 October 1958, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
became independent after the referendum of 28 September. The Guinean seminarists who were studying in Bingerville, returned to the new country and entered the Seminary of Dixinn in 1960, but only for a year because on 15 August 1961, the Democratic Party of Guinea nationalised all the private Catholic schools including the Seminary of Dixinn. After staying in their respective parishes, the seminarians, including Sarah, gathered at the locals of the parish of Sainte Croix, Kindia, waiting for the opening of the Seminary Jean XXIII, situated 135 kilometers from Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
.
After obtaining a baccalaureate in 1964, young Sarah was sent to France to study at the Grand Seminary of Nancy. But because of the political relations between France and Guinea, he had to go to Sébikotane, Sénégal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, to finish his theological formation. Later that year he was sent to study at 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...
, Rome, 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 theology; and at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem, where he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Scriptures. Sarah returned to Guinea in 1974.
Sarah was ordained to the priesthood on 20 July 1969 at the age of 24. Then-Father Sarah was incardinated in the diocese of Conakry. He was appointed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Conakry on 13 August 1979 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 ...
at the age of 34. 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 8 December 1979 by Cardinal Giovanni Benelli. Archbishop Sarah served as the ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the Archdiocese of Conakry until his appointment by Pope John Paul II as the Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on 1 October 2001.
On 1 September 2010 Archbishop Sarah criticised Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
’s call for Islam to become the religion of all of Europe, labelling it disrespectful to the Pope and Catholic Italy. Archbishop Sarah said that “To speak of the European continent converting to Islam makes no sense because it is the people alone who decide consciously to be Christian, Muslim or to follow other religions,”.
Archbishop Sarah was appointed as the President of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" replacing Cardinal Paul Cordes who's resignation had been accepted due to age. Cardinal Cordes had served as president since 1995. Archbishop Sarah, in his new role, was charged with orgainsing Catholic relief around the world. Then-Archbishop Sarah became the second African appointed by Pope Benedict to lead a Vatican dicastary after Cardinal Peter Turkson (who had previously been the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana) was appointed as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is a part of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church...
in 2009. They follow in the footsteps of three other Cardinals who had significant impacts at the Vatican: Cardinal Bernardin Gantin (who as Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
was the highest-ranking modern Catholic African), Cardinal Francis Arinze, and the first African Cardinal and close friend of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa.
On 20 November 2010, 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...
created and proclaimed him Cardinal-Deacon of San Giovanni Bosco in via Tuscolana. He will have voting rights in 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...
s until his 80th birthday. On 29 December 2010, Cardinal Sarah was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
, Pontifical Council for the Laity
Pontifical Council for the Laity
The Pontifical Council for the Laity has the responsibility of assisting the Pope in his dealings with the laity in lay ecclesial movements or individually, and their contributions to the Church. The Cardinal President of the Council is Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko. The Secretary is Bishop Josef...
and Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is a part of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church...
.