Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela

The Holy Father has appointed as metropolitan archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, His Eminence Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, archbishop of Mérida, Venezuela, and until now apostolic administrator “sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the archdiocese of Caracas, as metropolitan archbishop of Caracas.

Curriculum vitae

His Eminence Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo was born on 10 October 1944 in Caracas. After his studies in philosophy in the interdiocesan seminary of Caracas, he attended the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain, where he was awarded a licentiate in theology, and subsequently a doctorate in pastoral theology.

He was ordained a priest on 30 July 1967.

He was elected titular bishop of Lamdia and auxiliary of Mérida on 30 July of 1983, receiving episcopal consecration on 17 September of the same year. On 30 October 1991 he was appointed as metropolitan archbishop of Mérida.

From 2007 to 2011 he was the first vice president of CELAM, in which he also held the roles of president of the Department of the Laity (1995-1999) and of the Department of Communication (2003-2007).

He was created a cardinal, published in the Consistory of 19 November 2016, of the Title of Santi Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio. On 9 July 2018 he was appointed apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the archdiocese of Caracas.