Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop emeritus of Conakry (Guinea), was born on 15 June 1945 in Ourous, Guinea. After middle school, he was obliged to leave home in order to continue his studies at the minor seminary in Bingerville, Ivory Coast. Following Guinea’s independence in 1958, he returned home and completed his studies.

He was ordained priest on 20 July 1969 in Conakry.

After his ordination, he earned a licentiate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a licentiate in Scripture at the "Studium Biblicum Franciscanum" in Jerusalem.

Upon completion of his studies, he was nominated rector of the minor seminary of Kindia, and served as parish priest in Bokè, Katace, Koundara and Ourous.

On 13 August 1979, he was appointed Archbishop of Conakry at the age of 34, making him the youngest bishop in the world and called "the baby bishop" by John Paul II. He was consecrated on 8 December 1979.

On 1 October 2001, he was appointed secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

On 7 October 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".

On 23 November 2014 he was nominated Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was Prefect of the Congregation until 20 February 2021.

He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 20 November 2010, of the Title of San Giovanni Bosco in Via Tuscolana (Saint John Bosco in Via Tuscolana), Deaconry elevated pro hac vice to presbyteral title (3 May 2021).

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for the Oriental Churches; for the Causes of Saints; for the Evangelization; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.