Towards the conclave. Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, former Rector Maggiore of the Salesians in the rise among the Papables. Here is the possible pope for our times. – Carlo Franza’s blog

It is no longer the pope who comes from afar, I know him well, he is a dear and great friend of mine, human, strongly human and brother, could be called “the papabile of the last hour”, even if his name was already in the past appeared in the magical list of favorites; It’s Angel Fernandez Artime, for a few weeks pro-prefect of the dicastery for institutes of consecrated life and the apostolic life companies. Pope Bergoglio had placed him in that role after having made him a cardinal in September 2023. Then it was a simple priest but with an important assignment, He was the greater Rector of the Salesian Congregation founded by San Giovanni Bosco, an assignment he held for ten years. That is to say the tenth successor of San Giovanni Bosco, head of the second male religious institute of the Catholic Church, after the Jesuits. Why Pope Bergoglio He had chosen it and made it a cardinal was a gift he made to the Salesian congregation. In 2023 the ten years of pontificate of Pope Francis were celebrated, elected to the Soglio di Pietro on March 13, 2013. In this photograph that I submit you Mejía, Argentina 1949- we see the young Jorge Mario Bergoglio at the time he frequented the college of the Salesians of Ramos Mejía, in Argentina. It was the year 1949 and was 13 years old. Era Even the year in which the undersigned was born.

Do you think trivial news? Nient’Effetto, because in the 2023 Constoro Pope Bergoglio raised to the office. of Cardinal of Santa Romana Chiesa Don Angel Fernández Artime, major Rector of the Salesians, then still in office in the Salesian Congregation until the end of 2024. The appointment was a “gift” that Pope Bergoglio wanted to make at the Salesian Congregation.

Don Angel Fernandez Artime was born in the Asturias, in Spain, in 1960 from a family of fishermen. He attended the Salesian school of León and 18 years after the novitiate issues his first religious profession. He graduates in pastoral theology and licenses in philosophy and pedagogy at the University of Valladolid. On July 4, 1987 he was ordained presbyter.

After ordination, he teaches religion in the Salesian Institute Santo Ángel In Avilès and later he became director of the Salesian Institute of Ourense. Cover the Persons of delegate of youth pastoral, councilor and vicar in the Council of the Inspector of León, of which he is inspector from 2000 to 2006. In 2009 he was appointed superior of the South Argentine Inspector and in this period he has contacts with the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, then elected Pope with the name of Francesco.

When Rettor greater Rector of the Salesian congregation on March 25, 2014, thus happening to Pascual Chávez Villanueva, he was preparing to take possession of the Mediterranean Spain Inspectoria, of which he had been appointed superior on December 23, 2013.

On 9 July 2023, at the end of theAngelusPope Francis announces his creation to Cardinal; In the consistory of the following 30 September he creates him Cardinal Diacono of the minor Basilica of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in via Tuscolana in Rome annexed to the Salesian Institute Pius XI where I myself had the opportunity to attend middle school in the early sixties.

Notwithstanding the Motu proprio cum very serioussigned by Pope John XXIII in 1962, which establishes that all cardinals should be ordered bishops, has not received episcopal ordination. Episcopal ordination takes place according to the provisions of Pope John XXIII, in the apostolic letter “motu proprio”, Very serious cumon the episcopal dignity from Confto be e -rolled to all cardinals (April 15, 1962), and was scheduled for April 20, 2024. His episcopal ordination was made For the imposition of the hands and the prayer of ordering S. EM. R. Card. Card. Emil Paul Tscherrig, apostolic nuncio emeritus in Italy and in the Republic of San Marino to which S. Em. EM. R. R. Card. Card. Cristóbal López Romero, SDB, Archbishop of Rabat (Morocco) and Ser Mons. Lucas Van Looy, Sdb, Emeritus Bishop of Gent. (Belgium). The celebration took place In the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome at 15.30.

In Rome Bergoglio wanted him in the Curia for his wide experience in the management of a congregation, the Salesian one, known to be specialized in youth pastoral and in the patrimonial administration. Reformist, known and appreciated outside and inside the Vatican, Angel Fernandez Artime was presiding over the Rosary in St. Peter’s Square for the Pope’s health, on 6 March last, when the audio message was released with the voice of Bergoglio, at the time admitted to Gemelli.

Strengths

In a typical impasse scenario, the artime box- seventh the second from the right- could be compromised between two opposite candidates who face but cannot prevail, on which to converge the votes of one and the other faction. The age of the former Rector Major of the Salesians, 64 years old, would ensure him, at least in power, a long pontificate.

Weaknesses

Contrasting pushes between the Curia and Diocesan, between rival congregations and attentive to the instances of the global South – the churches illuminated by Bergoglio with its appointments and its cardinal choices – they could sink the “artime paper”.

Carlo Franza