NAVARRETE Card. Urbano, S.I.

Cardinal Urbano Navarrete Cortés, S.J., former Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University, was born on 25 May 1920 in Camarena de la Sierra, Teruel, Spain. He entered the Society of Jesus on 20 June 1937 in Italy and was ordained a priest in 31 May 1952. He holds degrees in philosophy and theology, and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

He then served as Dean of the faculty of canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University until he was appointed Rector Magnificent of the University, from 1980 to 1986.

In 1994, he was awarded an honorary doctorate “honoris causa” by the Pontifical University of Salamanca, Spain, and later the “Pázmány Péter” by the Catholic University of Budapest.

He was a member of the working group on the revision of the Marriage Rights of The Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church and The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. He was also a member of the Commission that drafted the definitive text of the Instruction Dignitas Connubii.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 November 2007, of the Deaconry of San Ponziano (St. Pontian).

Cardinal Urbano Navarrete Cortés, S.J., died on 22 November 2010.