Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi is an Argentine Jesuit prelate and a prolific writer who has been a close friend of Pope Francis since 1976 and shares a similar vision for the Church as the Roman Pontiff.

Born on August 11, 1958, in Córdoba, Argentina, Rossi entered the novitiate of the Argentine Province of the Society of Jesus in 1976. He was ordained priest on December 12, 1986, after completing his studies in philosophy and theology in Argentina and Ecuador.

Rossi’s academic achievements include earning a degree in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he wrote a thesis on spiritual discernment in Saint Ignatius. He took his solemn vows as a Jesuit in 1994.

Throughout his ecclesiastical life, Cardinal Rossi has been known for his commitment to social causes and spiritual guidance. From 1990 to 1992, he served as the rector of the Church of El Salvador in Buenos Aires, where he opened the Hogar San José for homeless people. In 1992, he founded the Manos Abiertas Foundation, which provides assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable in ten cities across Argentina.

Rossi has held several significant positions within the Jesuit order, including serving as novice master from 1992 to 1995 and as superior of the Jesuit community residence in Córdoba from 2013 to 2019. He is also known for offering numerous Ignatian spiritual exercises to groups of priests, religious, and lay people.

On November 6, 2021, Pope Francis appointed Rossi as Archbishop of Córdoba and he was consecrated archbishop the following month. Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal on September 30, 2023, assigning him the title of Cardinal-Priest of Santa Bernadette Soubirous.

Cardinal Rossi is known for his prolific writing, having written and co-written numerous works on spirituality and education for both youth and adults. One of his notable publications is the book “Teresa,” released in 1999, which helped popularize the “little way” of St. Thérèse of Lisieux among Spanish-speaking readers.

He is often described as a close friend of Pope Francis, sharing both Argentine nationality and membership in the Society of Jesus. His work has been characterized by a strong commitment to serving the poor and addressing social disparities in Argentina.

Cardinal Rossi has declared himself against abortion and believes “abortion is not a religious issue” but a broader question. He describes himself as someone “more simple and pastoral” rather than a theologian or intellectual.

Like Francis, the cardinal also emphasizes that the cardinalate must be understood as a service and not as an office of power. He insists on the importance of humility and simplicity in the exercise of this role, as well as the importance of listening, dialogue and discernment in the Church.

Rossi has been vocal in his opposition to drug trafficking and violence, leading campaigns and calling for action against such social problems. He has expressed concern about the situation of young people, especially in relation to school dropouts and vulnerability to drugs.

With regard to the Synod on Synodality, Cardinal Rossi said he hoped participants would “be able to listen to each other, to dialogue and to discern the challenges facing the Church and the world.” He emphasized the importance of putting the person at the center of the deliberations.