Ángel Suquía Goicoechea
Encyclopedia
Angel Suquía Goicoechea (2 October 1916 - 13 July 2006) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal
who served as Archbishop of Madrid
from 1983 until 1994.
He was educated at the La Salle Christian Brothers
at Beasain from 1925 until 1927. He entered the Minor Seminary
of Saturrarán, Motrico
, Guipúzcoa, and remained there until 1931, whereupon he entered the Major Seminary of Vitoria, until 1936. When the Spanish Civil War
started in 1936, he was destined to the fort of Guadalupe as a soldiers' instructor. In 1939, he travelled to the Benedictine monastery of Maria Laach in Germany
, to study liturgy
but when the Second World War started in that same year, he quickly returned to Spain
. He entered the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome in 1946 remaining there until 1949 where he obtained a doctorate
in theology
with the highest grades with his thesis
on La santa Misa en la espiritualidad de San Ignacio de Loyola.
He was ordained to the priesthood on 7 July 1940. On 17 May 1966 Pope Paul VI
appointed him to be the Bishop
of Almeria. He served as bishop of Málaga from 1969 to 1973. He became Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela
on 13 April 1973. On 12 April 1983 he was chosen to succeed Cardinal Vicente Enrique y Tarancón as Archbishop
of Madrid
by Pope John Paul II
.
On 25 May 1985 he was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest of Gran Madre di Dio. He remained at the see of Madrid until 1994 when he reached the age of 77.
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...
who served as Archbishop of Madrid
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid was founded on 7 March 1885 by Pope Leo XIII. Initially, the territory that now makes up the Archdiocese was part of the Archdiocese of Toledo. It was raised to the level of an Archdiocese on 25 March 1964 by Pope Paul VI. Pope John Paul II gave the...
from 1983 until 1994.
He was educated at the La Salle Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
at Beasain from 1925 until 1927. He 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...
of Saturrarán, Motrico
Motrico
*Motrico, Gipuzkoa is a town in the coast of Guipuzcoa, Spain, its current official name is Mutriku*Motrico , a race horse, twice winner of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the 1930s...
, Guipúzcoa, and remained there until 1931, whereupon he entered the Major Seminary of Vitoria, until 1936. When the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
started in 1936, he was destined to the fort of Guadalupe as a soldiers' instructor. In 1939, he travelled to the Benedictine monastery of Maria Laach in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, to study liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
but when the Second World War started in that same year, he quickly returned to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He entered 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 in 1946 remaining there until 1949 where he obtained a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 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...
with the highest grades with his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
on La santa Misa en la espiritualidad de San Ignacio de Loyola.
He was ordained to the priesthood on 7 July 1940. On 17 May 1966 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...
appointed him to be the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Almeria. He served as bishop of Málaga from 1969 to 1973. He became Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela
Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela
The Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela , established by Pope Calixtus II in 1120, is one of the five districts in which the Catholic Church divides Galicia in North-western Spain....
on 13 April 1973. On 12 April 1983 he was chosen to succeed Cardinal Vicente Enrique y Tarancón as 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...
of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
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 ...
.
On 25 May 1985 he was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest of Gran Madre di Dio. He remained at the see of Madrid until 1994 when he reached the age of 77.