Cardinal Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri is a Guatemalan prelate who has been dedicated to promoting social justice, peace and reconciliation in his country while also taking a firm line against abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and the death penalty.

Born on July 16, 1947 in Guatemala City, Alvaro is the eldest of the four children of Ernesto Ramazzini and Delia Imeri. Both his parents were of Italian origin who had emigrated from Lombardy.

After attending various schools in the South American country, he completed his schooling in the conciliar minor seminary of Santiago, also in the archdiocese of Guatemala. He studied philosophy and theology in the Salesian Theological Institute, and concluded his formation for the priesthood in Mexico, in the diocesan seminary of Mérida, in the Yucatán.

He was ordained priest on June 27, 1971 and took care of the Seminario Mayor Nacional de La Asunción. In that period, between 1976 and 1980, he studied canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he was awarded a doctorate.

Pope John Paul II appointed Ramazzini Bishop of San Marcos in 1988. In the diocese he recognized the value of agricultural resources and the dignity of rural workers. He also founded a “House of the Migrant” especially dedicated to the protection of unaccompanied minors.

In 1990 he became secretary general of the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference, within which he has held numerous offices. He was elected president in 2006, completed his term in 2008 and went on to run the commissions for social communications and for justice and solidarity. He has also served as head of social pastoral care, of national Caritas, of the pastoral ministry of communications, of the pastoral care of prisoners, and of “movilidad humana,” a body providing immediate assistance to migrants, in terms of shelter.

In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI transferred Ramazzini to become Bishop of Huehuetenango. Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal on October 5, 2019. Reflecting on his appointment, Ramazzini said: “I think the Pope is trying to change the idea that being a cardinal is something that gives you power and prestige.”

As part of his social justice work, Cardinal Ramazzini has been a vocal advocate for indigenous rights, migrants, the poor, and the marginalized. During Guatemala’s civil war from 1960-1996, he also played a prominent role in promoting peace and reconciliation efforts, especially from within the Guatemalan bishops’ conference.

He received the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award in 2011 for his social justice work, and has held leadership positions in the Guatemalan Episcopal Conference and contributed significantly to the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).

Known for his outspoken criticism of injustice and human rights abuses, he has received death threats due to his advocacy work. More recently, he has been a prominent voice supporting protests against alleged abuses of power by Guatemala’s attorney general.

Respected by progressive groups for his social justice efforts, they have also criticized some of his views on issues such as abortion and same-sex “marriage” that align with Catholic doctrine. He has stated, “I do not agree with the approval of abortion nor the death penalty nor same-sex marriage. It’s logical; I am a priest.” His views on blessings for same-sex couples in light of Fiducia Supplicans are not known.

Cardinal Ramazzini is a strong advocate for migrants and has made this a central focus of his work. He argues that as long as people cannot find jobs that pay enough to support their families, they will continue to migrate despite the dangers. He has called for a “strictly and essentially human” approach to migration and criticized policies that fail to protect migrants’ rights. At the same time, Ramazzini has also emphasized addressing root causes of migration, such as poverty and lack of economic opportunities in home countries.

During his time as Bishop of Huehuetenango from 2013 to 2021, priest numbers increased slightly from 24 to 32, male religious remained low but the same (about 5), and female religious increased from 57 to 72.