Card. Edwin Frederick O’Brien has turned 80. He is the Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
He has served in a variety of fields, ranging from a coordinator for Pope John Paul II visit to New York in 1979 to being responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the armed forces.
He was made cardinal by Benedict XVI in February 2012 and participated in the conclave that elected Pope Francis in March 2013.
As Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre he has frequently spoken up for Christian rights in the Holy Land.
Last year he even expressed his concern that Israel's new law. It has afforded exclusive rights for Jewish people and removed Arabic as an official language. The cardinal says this law is limiting the equality of non Jews.
CARD. EDWIN O'BRIEN
Grand Master, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
“That law has reversed the 1948 declaration of independence of the Jewish people and the Jewish state, which stated full equality, regardless of race or religion or sex to everyone living in the Holy Land. That has been abrogated.”
Cardinal Edwin O'Brien has said in the past more work needs to be open if people, especially the young, and their families are to survive there.
After a cardinal turns 80, they lose the right to vote in the next conclave. The number of voters now remaining are 121.
