San Pio X alla Balduina
Table of contents
Cardinal
Nicolás de Jesús
Lopéz Rodríguez
San Pio X alla Balduina
Dominican Republic
Fortes in fide
Strong in faith
Table of contents
Key Data
Summary
Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, Archbishop emeritus of Santo Domingo, is a former multiple term president of the Dominican bishops’ conference who once spoke out against the Obama administration’s appointment of an openly homosexual US ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
Born on October 31, 1936, in Barranca, Dominican Republic, López Rodriguez was ordained as a priest on March 18, 1961, by Bishop Francisco Panal Ramírez in La Vega. López Rodríguez pursued higher education, obtaining degrees in sacred theology, pastoral sociology, and social science from various institutions, including the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Throughout his career, López Rodríguez held numerous positions within the Church. He served as Vicar General in La Vega and was appointed Bishop of San Francisco de Macorís on January 16, 1978. His dedication and leadership skills led to his promotion as Archbishop of Santo Domingo on November 15, 1981, a position he held until his retirement.
López Rodríguez’s influence extended beyond his archdiocese. He served as President of the Dominican Bishops’ Conference multiple times and held significant roles in the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), including its presidency from 1991 to 1995. His contributions to the Church and society were recognized with various awards, including the Grand Cross of Isabella the Catholic from King Juan Carlos I of Spain.
On June 28, 1991, Pope John Paul II elevated López Rodríguez to the rank of cardinal, assigning him the titular church of San Pio X alla Balduina. As cardinal, he participated in the conclaves that elected Popes Benedict XVI and Francis. He also held the title of “Primate of the Indies” due to Santo Domingo being the first diocese established in the New World.
Known for his orthodox views, López Rodríguez has been a vocal figure on various social issues. He was outspoken in his criticism of the appointment of an openly gay U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic by the Obama administration.
Pope Francis accepted Cardinal López Rodríguez’s resignation on July 4, 2016, and he stepped down as Military Ordinary for the Dominican Republic on January 2, 2017.
Service to the Church
- Ordination to the Priesthood: 18 March 1961
- Ordination to the Episcopate: 25 February 1978
- Elevation to the College of Cardinals: 28 June 1991
Education
- Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, Pontifical Seminary St. Thomas of Aquinas in Santo Domingo
- 1965: Licentiate in Social Science, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome
- Diploma in Pastoral Sociology, International Center for Sociological Formation of Clerics
- Attended canon law courses at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome
Assignments
- 1961-1963: Vicar cooperator of the cathedral of La Vega
- 1966-1968: Chancellor and secretary of the diocesan curia of La Vega
- 1969-1970: Diocesan assessor for youth pastoral and pastor of the cathedral in La Vega
- 1970-1976: Vicar for pastoral and pro-vicar general in La Vega
- 1976-1978: Vicar general in La Vega
- 1979-1984: Rector of the University of San Francisco de Macorís
- 1982: Appointed Military Ordinary for the Dominican Republic
- 1984-2002: President of the Dominican Bishops’ Conference
- 1991-1995: President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM)
- 2009-2014: President of the Dominican Bishops’ Conference (second term)
- 2016: Retired as Archbishop of Santo Domingo
- 2017: Retired as Military Ordinary for the Dominican Republic
Photo: Héctor Báez/Wikipedia Commons
