The voters chose as the 35th selection Cardinal Francis Arinze, the 67 year-old prelate from Nigeria who is President of the very important Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. Many believe that in Cardinal Arinze is the key to relations with both the Muslims and the Jews. This Eastern Nigerian is one of Africa's most influential prelates and increasingly more active in Church affairs and curial matters internationally.
Francis Arinze was born in Eziowelle, Nigeria on All Saints Day in 1932. Nigeria at that time was a colonial British possession where the Faith was first introduced by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Because of the fruits of the European missionaries, young Francis had the benefit of dedicated missionary priests and nuns teaching him and this inspired in him a vocation to the priesthood for he wanted to help his people. He heard the stories of great priests including Blessed Father Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi whose faith inspired him. Islam was strongly entrenched in the northern regions of his country and he came to know both the Muslim way and the Catholic way, living, playing and working side by side his Islam brothers. Little did he realize this bond would play an integral part in his life in later years.
After minor and major seminary, he was ordained a priest on November 23, 1958. He was assigned professorial duties at Bigard Memorial Seminary and then appointed Regional Secretary for Catholic Education in Eastern Nigeria during which time he saw Nigeria gain independence from Great Britain in 1960. On August 29, 1965 Pope Paul VI elevated him to the episcopal ranks at the age of 33 and he was ordained Titular Bishop of Fissiana and auxiliary bishop of Onitsha in the coastal fertile delta region of Southern Nigeria.
He became Archbishop of Onitsha, the archdiocese of his birth, in 1967 where he served until 1984. It was a trying time for the young archbishop for that same year Biafra seceded and the country was thrown into civil war. The year before there had been a military coup in which the fear of the Ibo regime that had taken over prompted riots and thousands were killed. In a counter coup the leader of the Ibo General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed in a counter coup. This turmoil continued until 1970 when Biafra surrendered and civil war finally ended. Through all this time Archbishop Arinze was the true shepherd, consoling his flock, being there for them in times of crisis and encouraging them to pray and to love their enemy for that was the answer to all hate and despair - the message of the Gospel. The fruits of his administration have been borne out in the ensuing years as the Catholic population has mushroomed as well as vocations.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II could see the potential in this enterprising Nigerian bishop and asked him to become Pro-President of the Holy See's Secretariat for Non-Christians, an office originally instituted by Pope Paul VI on May 19,1964. Arinze was also unanimously chosen President of the Nigerian Bishops' Conference. Here he worked closely with the bishops and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the process of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi's beatification.
In the Consistory of May 25, 1985 the Holy Father bestowed the red-hat on him, naming him a Cardinal deacon and bestowed on him the titular church of St. John at della Pigna. With this promotion His Holiness also appointed him the President of the Secretariat for Non-Christians. The name of this curial office was changed to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogueon June 28, 1988 through his Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus. He thus became one of the younger cardinals of the Sacred Conclave at only 53. The Holy FAther named Archbishop Albert K. Obiefuna to succeed him in the Archdiocese of Onitsha.
In his capacity as President, Cardinal Arinze has overseen the promotion of studies and dialogue for the purpose of increasing mutual understanding and respect between Christians and non-Christians. This office also incorporates the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims. In these responsibilities Cardinal Arinze has leaned heavily upon his boyhood experiences, realizing these same friends he grew up with are all God's children and have the same fears, desires and goals as anyone else. With that kind of mutuality it has made it more advantageous for him to open dialogue with the believers of Mohammed. Also Cardinal Arinze has worked closely with various Lay movements within the Church, specifically the Focalare Movement and Chiara Lubich who we featured Wednesday in this feature category as the 37th selection of the TOP 100 CATHOLICS OF THE CENTURY. In fact the cardinal celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption this year by inaugurating the Focolare Center for Dialogue in Hyde Park, New York.
Not only is Cardinal Arinze one of the leading prelates of Africa, but quite possibly one of the more influential in the entire College of Cardinals and his name has been bandied about as papal material, especially in light of the tremendous growth of the Church in Africa. Take into consideration that fellow African colleague Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, from the neighboring country of Benin and ten years Cardinal Arinze's elder, is the Dean of the College of Cardinals. If ever there was the possibility of a black Pope, Cardinal Arinze would fit the bill! Add to this his active participation in the Roman curia with membership in the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, and the Committee for the Grand Jubilee of the Holy Year 2000 and his nomination, sometime in the future when God deems to call our current great Holy Father home, is very much a possibility. He wouldn't have to move far since he resides in at the Vatican at Largo del Colonnato 3, 00193 Rome, Italy.
This coming weekend he will host at the Vatican and then Assisi, along with the Pope, the vital Inter-religious Assembly bringing together world leaders of various faiths to seek answers to peace and harmony in a world on the brink of a new millennium. In one week Israel will honor Cardinal Arinze on Reformation Day October 31 when the International Council of Christians and Jews will confer on him the prestigious Gold Medal. The award will be presented in the residence of Israel's Ambassador to the Holy See Aharon Lopez. This same prize has been given in the past to King Gustav of Sweden, Queen Sophia of Spain, and King Hassan II of Morocco to name a few. Cardinal Arinze will receive his for his tireless work in support of dialogue
among believers of different religions, especially Muslims.
Despite the fact the hierarchy wasn't established until 1950, Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, leads all Catholic nations in Africa with 12,777,000 Catholics and has shown tremendous growth under the leadership of Cardinal Francis Arinze, adding ten new dioceses within the last five years. Even though political upheaval has continued in Nigeria, particularly in the capitol city of Abuja, the Faith has spread. On January 29, 1996 he was named a Cardinal priest and two years later had the distinct honor of accompanying the Holy Father back to his homeland for the Pope's second Papal Visit to Nigeria (the first had been in 1990) on March 21st to the 23rd in 1998 in which he saw the fulfillment of a life-long dream - the beatification of Blessed Father Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi in Cardinal Arinze's beloved city of Onitsha. It was truly a memorable homecoming!