Urbano Navarrete Cortés
Encyclopedia
Urbano Navarrete Cortés, S.J. (25 May 1920 – 22 November 2010) was a professor of Canon Law
and former rector
of the Pontifical Gregorian University
. He was made Cardinal
in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI, though he was over the age of 80 and thus could not vote in a papal conclave. His appointment followed the precedent set by previous Popes for rewarding priests who have made significant contributions to the life and work of the Church.
, Teruel
; his father was José Navarrete Esteban. He entered the Society of Jesus
on June 20, 1937; after his licentiate
in philosophy
and in theology
he obtained a doctorate in canon law
. Cardinal Navarrete was ordained
to the priesthood
on 31 May 1952, during the International Eucharistic Congress
. A world-renowned canonist, he then served as Dean
of the Faculty of Canon Law
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
until 1980, when he was appointed rector
. Cardinal Navarrete was granted an honorary doctorate
by the Pontifical University of Salamanca
, in his native Spain, in 1994, and was a consultor
to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
in the Roman Curia
.
On October 17, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI
announced that he would elevate Navarrete and twenty-two other prelate
s to the College of Cardinals
. The Pope honored Navarrete's request to be dispensed from the requirement of episcopal ordination
, and, at the consistory
in St. Peter's Basilica
on 24 November 2007, Navarrete was created Cardinal Deacon
of S. Ponziano. Cardinal Navarrete's coat of arms were designed by American ecclesiastical heraldic artist George N. Cannizzaro.
Cardinal Navarrete Cortés died on 22 November 2010. Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram of condolence to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the Very Reverend Father Adolfo Nicolas
, S.J., lauding the Cardinal for his distinguished contributions to canon law, theology, and philosophy, as well as the academic formation of clergy and laity while serving as Rector of the Gregorian. Cardinal Angelo Sodano
, Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and the former Cardinal Secretary of State
, served as the principal celebrant of the funeral Mass, while Pope Benedict delivered the homily and presided at the rites of Final Commendation and Valediction.
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and former rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of 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...
. He was made 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...
in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI, though he was over the age of 80 and thus could not vote in a papal conclave. His appointment followed the precedent set by previous Popes for rewarding priests who have made significant contributions to the life and work of the Church.
Biography
Cardinal Navarrete Cortés was born in Camarena de la SierraCamarena de la Sierra
Camarena de la Sierra is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 166 inhabitants.This town is located at the feet of the Sierra de Javalambre, Sistema Ibérico....
, Teruel
Teruel (province)
Teruel is a province of Aragon, in the northeast of Spain. The capital is Teruel.It is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Castellón, Valencia , Cuenca, Guadalajara, and Zaragoza....
; his father was José Navarrete Esteban. He entered 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...
on June 20, 1937; after his 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 in theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
he obtained a doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
. Cardinal Navarrete 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....
on 31 May 1952, during the International 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...
. A world-renowned canonist, he then served as Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Faculty of Canon Law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
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...
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...
until 1980, when he was appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. Cardinal Navarrete was granted an honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by the Pontifical University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
, in his native Spain, in 1994, and was a consultor
Consultor
A consultor is one who gives counsel, i.e. a counselor.In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions:*in the Roman Curia, a consultor is a specially appointed expert who may be called upon for advice desired by a department...
to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the...
in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
.
On October 17, 2007, 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...
announced that he would elevate Navarrete and twenty-two other prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
s to 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...
. The Pope honored Navarrete's request to be dispensed from the requirement of episcopal ordination
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....
, and, at the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
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...
on 24 November 2007, Navarrete was created Cardinal Deacon
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 S. Ponziano. Cardinal Navarrete's coat of arms were designed by American ecclesiastical heraldic artist George N. Cannizzaro.
Cardinal Navarrete Cortés died on 22 November 2010. Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram of condolence to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the Very Reverend Father Adolfo Nicolas
Adolfo Nicolás
Father Adolfo Nicolás Pachón, S.J., S.T.D. is a Spanish priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the thirtieth and current Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the largest male religious order in the Church.-Biography:...
, S.J., lauding the Cardinal for his distinguished contributions to canon law, theology, and philosophy, as well as the academic formation of clergy and laity while serving as Rector of the Gregorian. Cardinal Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Dean of the College of Cardinals and former Vatican Secretary of State, having held that post from 1990 to 2006, under both popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI...
, Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and the former Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
, served as the principal celebrant of the funeral Mass, while Pope Benedict delivered the homily and presided at the rites of Final Commendation and Valediction.