Cardinal Celestino Aós Braco is a Spanish-born retired Archbishop of Santiago de Chile who has been working to restore credibility to the Church in Chile after its reputation was hit by the clerical sex abuse crisis.

Born on April 6, 1945, in Artaiz, Spain, he joined the Capuchin Franciscan order and took his final vows in 1967. He was ordained as a priest on March 30, 1968, and initially worked in Spain as a professor and vicar.

Aós Braco’s academic background includes studying philosophy in Zaragoza and theology in Pamplona. He also earned a licentiate in psychology from the University of Barcelona in 1980. This psychological training would later prove significant in his career.

In 1983, Aós Braco moved to Chile, where he would spend most of his ecclesiastical career. He served in various roles, including parochial vicar, superior of the Capuchin community, and episcopal vicar for consecrated life. His expertise in canon law led to appointments as a judge and promoter of justice in ecclesiastical tribunals.

Pope Francis appointed Aós Braco as Bishop of Copiapó in 2014, a role he found surprising given his unfamiliarity with the region. His most significant appointment came on March 23, 2019, when Pope Francis named him Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Santiago, Chile. This appointment came at a crucial time for the Chilean Church, which was facing a severe credibility crisis due to sexual abuse scandals.

On December 27, 2019, Pope Francis elevated Aós Braco to Archbishop of Santiago, and on November 28, 2020, he was created a cardinal, and assigned the titular church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo in Rome.

Aós Braco’s tenure has not been without controversy. In 2007, while serving as promoter of justice in Valparaiso, he dismissed a sexual abuse complaint against a former seminary rector as “implausible.” This decision was later scrutinized in light of the later revelations about widespread abuse in the Chilean Church.

Another controversy arose in April 2019 when Aós Braco initially refused Holy Communion to people who knelt to receive the Eucharist, causing some distress. He later apologized for any perceived humiliation and clarified his stance on receiving communion in different postures.¹Cardinal Aos Braco said: “Communion is not simply a union with God but with the community. There is a Spanish saying that says: ‘Where you are going, do whatever you see.’ If I go to a place where everyone receives communion on their knees, I do so too. And if everyone goes to communion standing up, this is normal too. A week later, as I celebrated Mass in the Sanctuary of Mercy, there were some who received communion on their feet, others on their knees, it was given to all. I believe that Jesus Christ is in the Holy Host, whether I’m standing or kneeling. At that time there was a reaction, some said I humiliated [these people] by asking them to get up. If they felt humiliated, I ask forgiveness, it was not the intent. But despite this incident, I’m calm.”

Aós Braco has been working to restore credibility to the Chilean Church. He has emphasized the need for profound purification and reform, stating that superficial changes are inadequate. He has also taken steps to address the abuse crisis, such as deciding not to appeal court verdicts awarding compensation to abuse victims

Cardinal Aós Braco is fluent in Spanish, his native language. Given his Spanish origin and long tenure in Chile, it’s likely he speaks both Castilian Spanish and Chilean Spanish. His academic background in Barcelona and research at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile suggest he may have some proficiency in Catalan and possibly English.