Cardinal
Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa

Eleventh Archbishop of Santiago, Chile

Erzbischof Pater Francisco Javier Errázuriz, Santiago de Chile Archbishop Fr. Francisco Javier Errázuriz, Santiago de Chile Arzobispo P. Francisco Javier Errázuriz, Santiago de Chile

Fotos: Schoenstatt-Patres © 2000-2001

Curriculum Vitae

• 1933, 5 September: Born in Santiago, Chile, to Pedro Errazuriz Larrain and Marta Ossa Ruiz. Francisco is the second of six sons.
  Attended Liceo Aleman, and Elementary and High School run by the Divine Word Missionary Fathers (SVD)
  
  
• 1951 March: Joined the School of Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Graduated as Bachelor in Advanced Mathematics. During these years he joined the college groups of the new Schoenstatt Movement, becoming a member of the founding generation of the Movement in Chile.
  
  
• 1956-1958 Philosophical and Theological studies at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Graduated with a Licentiate in Theology in 1962.
  
  
• 1961 16 July: Ordained a priest in Fribourg.
  
  
• 1962 October: Visited Father Joseph Kentenich, founder of the Schoenstatt Movement. This visit had a profound influence on him.
  
  
• 1963-1965 Chaplain to the Schoenstatt Youth Movement in Chile.
  
  
• 1965 Appointed Regional Superior for the community in Chile by the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers, which was then in its founding phase. Held this post until 1971. From Chile he supported the beginnings of his community in Spain, Portugal and Ecuador. As Regional Superior he was a member of the Religious Conference of Chile and was elected its Vice-president. During these years he worked closely with Cardinal Raul Silva Enriquez, who had accepted the Schoenstatt Fathers into his Archdiocese Theirs was to be a rich and lasting friendship.
  
  
• 1971 Appointed advisor to the General Council of his community in Schoenstatt, Vallendar, Germany.
  
  
• 1974 Elected Superior General of the Schoenstatt Fathers and as such became President of the International Council of the Schoenstatt Movement.
  
  
• 1980 Re-elected Superior General. Held this office until December 1990. On behalf of his community and the Schoenstatt Movement he visited many countries in Europe, Africa, Australia and the Americas.
  
  
• 1990, 22 December: Appointed Archbishop and Secretary of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.
  
  
• 1991, 6 January: Episcopal ordination by our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Basilica. His episcopal motto: Nominatim propias vocat (Jn 10,3). Named Titular Archbishop of Holarensem.
  
  
• During his time in Rome he served as
  - Advisor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
  - Member of the Pontifical Congregation for Latin America
  - Member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
  - Member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers
  - Member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
  - Member of the Second Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the consecrated life
  
  
• 1996, 24 September: Appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Valparaiso, the second largest diocese of Chile. 10 November: Took up office. His motto: Ut vitam habeant (Jn 10,10).
  
  
• 1998, 24 April: Appointed Archbishop of Santiago, Chile. On 17 May took up office at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago. The Holy Father conferred the Pallium on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, 29 June 1998 in St. Peter's.
  
  
• 1998, 20 November: Elected President of the Bishops' Conference of Chile for a three year term.
  
  
• 1999, 13 May: Elected first Vice-president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM)
  
  
• January 21, 2001: Appointed Cardinal by Pope John Paul II.