By Fr. Henry Charles Umelechi
Today, 1 November 2023, His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (now Congregation of Sacred rites) and Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni clocks 91. He was born on 1 Nov. 1932 at Eziowelle, Archdiocese of Onitsha, Anambra State Nigeria.
Ecclesiastical Micro Data for Francis Cardinal Arinze
•Ordained Priest of Onitsha, Nigeria at 26 years : 23 Nov 1958.
•Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Onitsha, Nigeria at 32 years, Nigeria: 6 Jul 1965.
•Appointed Titular Bishop of Fissiana at 32 years: 6 Jul 1965.
•Ordained Bishop Titular Bishop of Fissiana at 32 years: 29 Aug 1965.
•Appointed Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria at 34 years: 26 Jun 1967.
•Appointed Pro-Prefect of the Secretariat for Non-Christians at 51 years: 8 Apr 1984.
•Resigned as the Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria at 52 years: 9 Mar 1985.
•Elevated to Cardinal at 52 years: 25 May 1985.
•Appointed Cardinal-Deacon of San Giovanni della Pigna at 52 years: 25 May 1985.
•Appointed President of the Secretariat for Non-Christians at 52 years: 27 May 1985.
•Appointed Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni della Pigna at 63 years: 29 Jan 1996.
•Appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at 69 years: 1 Oct 2002.
•Ceased as the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at 72 years: 2 Apr 2005.
•Confirmed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at 72 years: 21 Apr 2005.
•Appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni at 72 years: 25 Apr 2005
•Installed Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni at 72 years: 22 May 2005
•Retired Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at 76 years: 9 Dec 2008.
•Others
Francis Cardinal Arinze was baptized on 1 November 1941, his ninth birthday, by Blessed Father Michael Iwene Tansi, who was beatified by John Paul II in 1998. He was ordained a priest by Grégoire-Pierre XV (François) Cardinal Agagianian, Pro-Prefect of the Congregation for Propagation of the Faith and consecrated a Bishop by Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.S.P., the then Archbishop of Onitsha.
Francis Cardinal Arinze is one of four (as of July 2023) living Vatican II council Fathers, of the more than 2,500 bishops who attended the Vatican II council (1962—1965). He attended the Second Vatican II Council at Session Four. He participated in the conclave for the election of the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
As of 1 November 2023, Cardinal Arinze is a Catholic Christian for 82 years, a Catholic priest for 65 years, a Catholic bishop for 58 years and a cardinal for 38 years.
Indeed, having been born on November 1, baptised on November 1 and ordained a priest in November, providentially he has a connection with the saints.
Happy birthday to Francis Cardinal Arinze. We wish the Cardinal the best in Divine Providence. Amen.
Say a prayer for the Cardinal!!!
