Cardinal Francis Arinze is a retired senior Vatican official with fervent orthodox views who has had a long and distinguished career in the Church spanning several decades.

Born on November 1, 1932, in Eziowelle, Nigeria, into a family that practiced traditional African religion, at the age of 9, on November 1, 1941 (his birthday), young Francis made the decision to convert to Catholicism. This was not due to pressure from adults or others around him, but rather of his own volition and through what he believed to be the grace of God.

The person who received Arinze into the Catholic faith was Blessed Cyprian Tansi, who was serving as a parish priest at the time. Blessed Tansi’s example of holiness left a lasting impression on the young Arinze, particularly in teaching him to recognize and love Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.

He then began his journey to priesthood at a young age, studying at All Hallows Seminary in Nuewi before pursuing philosophy and theology at Bigard Memorial Seminary and the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.

Arinze was ordained priest in 1958 and quickly rose through the ranks of the Church hierarchy. In 1965, at the age of 32, he became the youngest Roman Catholic bishop in the world when he was appointed titular bishop of Fissiana and coadjutor to the archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria. He attended the final session of the Second Vatican Council that same year, marking the beginning of his involvement in global Church affairs.

One of the most challenging periods in Arinze’s career came shortly after he was named archbishop of Onitsha in 1967. The Nigeria-Biafra War broke out, and his entire archdiocese was located in the secessionist Biafran territory. During this time, Arinze demonstrated remarkable leadership, aiding refugees and supervising an efficient distribution of relief materials. He managed to keep the Church independent of the warring factions, showcasing his diplomatic skills.

Arinze’s talents were recognized by the Vatican, and in 1984, he was called to Rome by Pope John Paul II to lead the Secretariat for Non-Christians (later renamed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue). This appointment marked the beginning of his long and distinguished career in the Roman Curia.

In 1985, Arinze was elevated to the rank of cardinal, becoming a key advisor to Pope John Paul II. He served in various capacities, including as president of the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. His work in interfaith relations earned him a gold medallion from the International Council of Christians and Jews in 1999.

In 2002, Arinze was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, a position he held until 2008. This role made him the fourth highest-ranking official in the Roman Curia at the time.

Arinze was considered a strong papabile candidate in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. Although he was not elected, he remained a respected figure in the Church. Benedict XVI elevated him to Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni in 2005, a role traditionally held by papabili.

Even after his retirement as prefect in 2008, Arinze continued to play important roles in the Church. In 2009, he was called to preach the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia, which Pope Benedict XVI attended. He took part in two synods of bishops, on the Eucharist in 2005, and on Africa in 2009.

Cardinal Arinze holds orthodox Catholic views, especially on matters of life, the family, and sexuality. He emphasizes adherence to established Church teachings and scripture rather than advocating for changes to accommodate modern societal trends.

In 2022, he rejected the claims of two influential cardinals — Reinhard Marx and Jean-Claude Hollerich — who had suggested that Catholic moral teachings were negotiable or even false, with Marx asserting that the teachings of the Church are “not set in stone”. “It is not wise for a Catholic bishop or priest or, worse, a cardinal, to suggest that,” Cardinal Arinze said. “If the cardinal who said that was thinking about homosexuality, he cannot be supported at all.”¹The Catholic Herald observed that Cardinal Arinze had identified a faultline within the Church, “between those who align themselves with changing secular understanding of sexuality and gender who are mostly European, and those who maintain that Church teaching does not change but only evolves.”

Now into his 90s, he continues to occasionally speak out in defense of the faith, often with his characteristic good humor.²In November 2024 aged 92, he flew alone to Nigeria to give a talk at the world’s largest Catholic seminary, the Bigart Memorial Seminary in Enugu in the diocese of Onitsha. He may also wield considerable influence at the next conclave.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Arinze has been known for his frankness, his work in interfaith dialogue, and his orthodox positions on Church doctrine.