Sandoval Iñiguez, Juan*

Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara (Mexico) was born on March 28, 1933 in Yahualica, Jalisco, Diocese of San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. He grew up in a Christian family of 12, of which nine are still alive. One of his brothers, José, is a Guadalupe Missionary in Korea at the present time.

After his compulsory education at the 'Amado Nervo' Institute in Yahualica, he entered Guadalajara seminary in 1945, at the age of 12. At the end of his first course in philosophy, he was sent to Rome in 1952 to continue his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where, after 8 years of study, he obtained a degree in philosophy and a doctorate in dogmatic theology with his thesis: The theology of preaching in St John of Avila. He was ordained priest on October 27, 1957, on the solemnity of Christ the King.

He returned to Guadalajara in 1961 and was appointed as spiritual director of the first and second Latin course pupils at the diocesan seminary. At the end of this academic year, he was named their Prefect of Discipline. He was subsequently appointed Prefect of the Faculty of Philosophy and teacher of various subjects in the same faculty.

He then went to the village of Tapalpa, as Prefect of the students in the propaedeutic course at the same seminary of Guadalajara, a post he held for four years.

In September 1971, he was named vice-rector at Guadalajara seminary with the role of rector and on August 22, 1980 he was appointed rector.

In addition to these duties, he has been a member of the Presbyterial Council of which he was twice president. He was also a member of the governing organ of the Archdiocese and the diocesan commission for the Clergy.

On March 3, 1988 he was appointed coadjutor Bishop of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and received his episcopal ordination in this city on April 30 the same year. On July 11, 1992 he became Bishop of Ciudad Juárez.

Pope John Paul II named him Archbishop of Guadalajara on April 21, 1994, and he took possession of the Diocese the following May 19.

Relator general of the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops (1997).

President Delegate of the 11th  Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church (October 2005).

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the consistory of November 26, 1994, of the Title of Nostra Signora di Guadalupe e S. Filippo Martire in Via Aurelia (Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Philip the Martyr on Via Aurelia).

Member of:

  • Congregations: for Institutes of Consecrated life and Societies of Apostolic Life; for Catholic Education;
  • Pontifical Council for Culture;
  • Pontifical Commission for Latin America;
  • Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See;
  • Cardinal Commission for the Supervision of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR);
  • Special Council for America of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.