Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger trusted and named Luis Ladaria 'secretary' of the International Theological Commission, meaning his general coordinator. Four years later, as pope, Benedict XVI made him number two of what had been for years 'his' Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Now Pope Francis has given this same department to him. It is a congregation that Ladaria knows very well and one where he is very well-esteemed.
In this interview from July 2008, he spoke about the work the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is doing, and recalled that its first mission is to 'promoteâ? and second is to 'safeguard' Catholic doctrine.
LUIS LADARIA
Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
JULY 2008
''Promoting' means to make the faith well-known, to help live the faith; and 'safeguarding' means avoiding deviations. I believe that what is intended is to promote and safeguard. Most importantly, promote. Sometimes clichés are created that do not respond to reality.'
From Spain, he is 73 years old and in 1966 he entered the Society of Jesus. He studied Law and Theology. He remembers with great affection his time teaching in this place, the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
LUIS LADARIA
Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
JULY 2008
'Here I have dedicated myself to teaching different courses from Dogmatics, such as Theological Anthropology and Trinitarian Theology. Teaching in the Gregorian is very beautiful, because we have students here from more than 120-130 countries. There's a huge variety. This internationality is an impressive incentive: different points of view and different mentalities, but always in communion with the faith, and in union with the Church. This has always been a very pleasant experience for me.'
The observers say that the appointment of Luis Ladaria as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the second most important selection in Pope Francis' pontificate, after that of Pietro Parolin as Secretary of State.
He has chosen a discreet and hardworking professor, who is open to dialogue and has now become one of Pope Francis' points of reference at the Vatican.
JMB/MB
RR
VM
- PR
Up: MB
