Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop Emeritus of Conakry (Guinea), was born on 15 June 1945 in Ourous, Guinea.  After secondary school, he had to leave home to continue his studies at the minor seminary in Bingerville, Ivory Coast.  Following Guinea’s independence in 1958, he returned home to complete his studies.

He was ordained a priest on 20 July 1969 in Conakry.

After his ordination, he obtained a licentiate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a licentiate in sacred scripture at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem.

He was named Rector of the minor seminary of Kindia, and served as parish priest in Bokè, Katace, Koundara and Ourous.

On 13 August 1979, at the age of 34, he was appointed Archbishop of Conakry, making him the youngest bishop in the world.  He was 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 appointed Prefect of the Congregation for 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.

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the Consistory of 20 November 2010, and was assigned the titular church of San Giovanni Bosco in Via Tuscolana. He was elevated pro hac vice from Cardinal Deacon to Cardinal Priest on 3 May 2021.

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for the Oriental Churches; for the Causes of the Saints; for Evangelization, Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.