Mons. D. Juan José Omella nace en la localidad de Cretas, provincia de Teruel y archidiócesis de Zaragoza, el 21 de abril de 1946. Estudió en el Seminario de Zaragoza y en Centros de Formación de los Padres Blancos en Lovaina y Jerusalén. El 20 de septiembre de 1970 recibía la ordenación sacerdotal. En su ministerio sacerdotal, trabajó como Coadjutor y como Párroco y entre 1990 y 1996 como Vicario Episcopal en la diócesis de Zaragoza. Durante un año fue misionero en Zaire.

Cargos pastorales El 15 de julio de 1996 fue nombrado Obispo auxiliar de Zaragoza. Fue ordenado Obispo el 22 de septiembre de ese mismo año. El 27 de octubre de 1999 fue nombrado Obispo de la diócesis de Barbastro-Monzón, de la que tomó posesión el 12 de diciembre de 1999. Entre el 24 de agosto de 2001 y el 19 de diciembre de 2003 fue Administrador Apostólico de Huesca y entre el 19 de octubre de 2001 y el 19 de diciembre de 2003, también Administrador Apostólico de Jaca. El día 8 de abril de 2004 es nombrado Obispo de la diócesis de Calahorra y La Calzada-Logroño. Tomó posesión de la diócesis el 29 de mayo del mismo año. Es también Consiliario Nacional de Manos Unidas. El 31 de mayo de 2013 fue investido Prior Honorario de la Virgen de Valvanera por el Capítulo de Caballeros debido a su labor con la peregrinación de la Virgen por los diferentes municipios riojanos con motivo del Año de la Fe. El 6 de noviembre de 2014 la Santa Sede hacía público su nombramiento como miembro de la Congregación para los Obispos.

Otros datos de interés sobre Mons. Omella En la CEE es miembro de la Comisión Episcopal de Pastoral Social desde 1996. De 2002 a 2008 fue Presidente de esta misma Comisión Episcopal. El 13 de marzo de 2014, en la CIII Asamblea Plenaria, fue elegido de nuevo presidente de la Comisión Episcopal de Pastoral Social.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, was born in San Pietro in Campo, Barga, Italy, on 29 September 1940. He entered the seminary in Pisa, where in addition to theology and philosophy he also studied piano.  He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1963.  He holds a license in dogmatic theology and a doctorate in canon law. In 1971 he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy where he graduated two years later.  He also studied at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and then studied polyphony and sacred music with Domenico Bartolucci.

When he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1973 he was sent to Guatemala and El Salvador as an official.  One year later he was promoted to secretary.  Subsequently he worked in the nunciatures of Japan, Brazil, Paraguay and France.  Between 1986 and 1991 he served at the pontifical representation of Zimbabwe.  In 1991 he was sent to Haiti, which was in serious political and social turmoil including a coup d’état. On 15 January 1992 he was appointed titular Archbishop of Diocletiana and Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti.  He received his episcopal ordination on 7 March of that year.  He returned to Haiti on 28 March during a time of great difficulty: the country was experiencing conflict, social tension and violence, including against the Church.  He remained there until 1995, when he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Paraguay – a country which was transitioning to democracy.  In 1999 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, and in 2002 as Nuncio to Brazil. In 2012 he was called to Rome and began serving as Secretary in the Congregation of Bishops. Later he was appointed consultor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Secretary of the College of Cardinals. On 21 September 2013 Pope Francis entrusted him the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 22 February 2014, of the Deaconry of Sant’Anselmo all’Aventino. (St. Anselm on Aventino). Member of:

• Congregations: of the Causes of Saints; for Bishops, for the Evangelization of Peoples;
• Pontifical Commission for Latin America (Counsellor).

Nato a Lenno il 1° settembre 1950, trasferitosi con la famiglia all’età di otto anni a Tremezzo (Co), entra nel Seminario di Como nel 1970, dopo gli studi classici compiuti al Collegio Gallio di Como, retto dai Padri Somaschi.

Viene ordinato presbitero nella Cattedrale di Como il 28 giugno 1975 dal vescovo mons. Teresio Ferraroni con altri dodici giovani. Subito dopo l’ordinazione sacerdotale, gli viene affidato l’incarico di curare la pastorale vocazionale diocesana, e dal 1975 al 1999 è quindi responsabile del Centro diocesano Vocazioni, organizzando, lungo gli anni, vari momenti formativi e iniziative di preghiera, rivolte specialmente ai giovani.

Dal 1975 al 1982 è collaboratore parrocchiale nella parrocchia di Santa Maria Regina di Como Muggiò e dal 1983 al 1992 insegnante di Religione nelle scuole medie superiori. Nel 1986 è nominato Padre Spirituale del Seminario di Como, incarico mantenuto fino al 2003, anno in cui diviene Vicario Episcopale per il Clero. Ha contribuito alla nascita e allo sviluppo nella Diocesi di Como dell’Ordo Virginum che ha seguito come delegato vescovile dal 1991 al 2003. Nei vari anni è stato più volte membro del Consiglio Presbiterale e del Consiglio Pastorale Diocesano.

Eletto alla sede vescovile di Crema il 25 gennaio 2005, riceve l’ordinazione episcopale nella Cattedrale di Como per le mani del Vescovo Alessandro Maggiolini il 5 marzo e prende possesso della Diocesi di Crema il 19 marzo 2005.

Nella Conferenza Episcopale Italiana ha svolto il ruolo di assistente del Visitatore per i Seminari dal 2005 al 2015. Attualmente è membro della Commissione episcopale per il Clero e la Vita Consacrata, referente per l’Ordo Virginum in Italia. Nella Conferenza Episcopale Lombarda è delegato per il Centro Regionale Vocazioni e per i Seminari.

È presidente della Commissione per le Vocazioni della CCEE (Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum  Europae)- EVS (European Vocations service) (2012). Nominato vescovo di Como il 4 ottobre 2016.

João Chagas was ordained a priest on 21 December 2001. In 2011 he began to help out the Youth Section with preparations for WYD in RIo. He has had extensive pastoral experience with the Shalom Catholic Community, an international association of the faithful recognised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity on 22 February 2007. It is with this community that his priestly vocation was born and nourished.

After studying philosophy in his native city of Fortaleza, he came to Rome to study at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). He returned to Brazil for three years, and then took up studies in spirituality at the Pontifical Institute for Spirituality (Teresianum) in Rome where he continues with his doctoral studies. He served for two mandates on the General Council of the Shalom Community and ten years as international assistant. He helped to establish the Community in countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia. His experience includes youth ministry, vocational ministry, catechesis for youth and adults, liturgical animation, etc. He has also worked in the organisation of large events, and has led young people from the Shalom Community to WYD in Rome, Toronto, Cologne, Sydney and Madrid. While in Rome, he has been a volunteer with the San Lorenzo International Youth Centre for a long time. He also has parish experience. From 2007 to 2011 he had the pastoral care of the parish of Sant’Anna (Pian Paradiso) in the diocese of Civita Castellana in the province of Viterbo.

Since 2013 he is head of the Youth Section of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

Rino Fisichella was born in Codogno, near Milan, on August 25, 1951. As a student of Almo Collegio Capranica, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rome on March 13, 1976. 1980 he was awarded a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University where he taught from 1981 to 2001, rising to become Professor-in-Ordinary of Fundamental Theology.

From 2002 to 2010 he was Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, combining this office with that of President of the Pontifical Academy for Life from 2008 to 2010. On June 30, 2010 he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the first President of the newly constituted Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. He is also a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.

He is regarded internationally as one of the leading Italian theologians, having authored or edited some twenty books—many of which translated into several languages—in addition to many articles contributed to national and international scholarly journals. He has been a visiting professor at several Italian and overseas universities and has also lectured in various European countries (Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Hungary) as well as in the United States, Brazil, the Philippines, Turkey, India, Korea, Taiwan, and Colombia. In 2005 he was awarded the Gold Medal for Culture by the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Etsuro Sotoo (born 1953 in Fukuoka Prefecture) is a Japanese sculptor strongly influenced by Antoni Gaudí. His interest in Gaudi led him to convert to the Catholic Church. His most noted work are sculptures located in the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

In 1978 Etsuro Sotoo visited Barcelona and was impressed by the Sagrada Familia. He worked as a stonecutter and also on the Nativity façade, following the instructions left by Antoni Gaudí. Among other figures there were sculptures made of angels musicians and singers children the Nativity façade and fruit baskets that crown the pinnacles of the temple. He has also designed the doors installed on the Nativity facade of polychrome aluminum and glass, decorated with plants, insects and small animals. He has also made four gargoyles to be installed in the towers of the Evangelists, currently under construction. Sotoo was also been commissioned to restore the sculptures of the Porta del Rosari, damaged in the Spanish Civil War.

He also worked on the design of tubular bells installed in Gaudí thought bell towers of the three facades of the Sagrada Familia. He is also author of a monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the signature Louis Vuitton in Barbera del Valles (2004) and Memorial Angel Lace (2003) in Arenys de Munt and sculpture of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (2004) in the Montalegre church for Barcelona. In Japan, author of Birth (1985) and The Old Man and the Girl (1988) in the Art Museum Chohachi Matsuzaki and sculptures Pineapples (1993) at the Stadium of Fukuoka and Five Elements (1997) at the Institute of Fukuoka monument of 1500 m² dedicated to water, the wind, the sky, fire and earth. Sotoo was a visiting professor of Kyushu University User Science Institute, School of Engineering Main Building and ambassador of Kesennuma, Rias Sanriku (Japan).

He was also vice president of the Nipon Center of Canet de Mar.

Emmo. y Rvmo. Sr. Antonio CAÑIZARES LLOVERA

El Cardenal Antonio Cañizares, nombrado el 28 de agosto de 2014 por el papa Francisco arzobispo de Valencia, nació en la localidad valenciana de Utiel el 15 de octubre de 1945. Cursó los estudios eclesiásticos en el Seminario diocesano de Valencia y en la Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, en la que obtuvo el doctorado en Teología, con especialidad en Catequética. Fue ordenado sacerdote el 21 de junio de 1970.

Los primeros años de su ministerio sacerdotal los desarrolló en Valencia. Después se trasladó a Madrid donde se dedicó especialmente a la docencia. Fue profesor de Teología de la Palabra en la Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, entre 1972 y 1992; profesor de Teología Fundamental en el Seminario Conciliar de Madrid, entre 1974 y 1992; y profesor, desde 1975, del Instituto Superior de Ciencias Religiosas y Catequesis, del que también fue director, entre 1978 y 1986. Ese año, el Instituto pasó a denominarse «San Dámaso» y el Cardenal Cañizares continuó siendo su máximo responsable, hasta 1992. Además, fue coadjutor de la parroquia de “San Gerardo”, de Madrid, entre 1973 y 1992. Entre 1985 y 1992 fue director del Secretariado de la Comisión Episcopal para la Doctrina de la Fe de la Conferencia Episcopal Española.

Creado Cardenal en marzo de 2006

El papa Juan Pablo II le nombró Obispo de Ávila el 6 de marzo de 1992. Recibió la ordenación episcopal el 25 de abril de ese mismo año. El 1 de febrero de 1997 tomó posesión de la diócesis de Granada. Entre enero y octubre de 1998 fue Administrador Apostólico de la diócesis de Cartagena. El 24 de octubre de 2002 fue nombrado Arzobispo de Toledo, sede de la que tomó posesión el 15 de diciembre de ese mismo año. Fue creado Cardenal por el Papa Benedicto XVI en el Consistorio Ordinario Público, el primero de su Pontificado, el 24 de marzo de 2006.

Cargos desempeñados en la CEE y en la Santa Sede

En la Conferencia Episcopal Española ha sido vicepresidente (2005-2008), miembro del Comité Ejecutivo (2005-2008), miembro de la Comisión Permanente (1999-2008), presidente de la Subcomisión Episcopal de Universidades (1996-1999) y de la Comisión Episcopal de Enseñanza y Catequesis (1999-2005).

El Papa Juan Pablo II lo nombró miembro de la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe el 10 de noviembre de 1995. El 6 de mayo de 2006, el Papa Benedicto XVI le asignó esta misma Congregación, ya como Cardenal. También como Cardenal, el Papa le nombró, el 8 de abril de 2006, miembro de la Comisión Pontificia “Ecclesia Dei”.

El Cardenal Cañizares ha sido fundador y primer Presidente de la Asociación Española de Catequetas, miembro del Equipo Europeo de Catequesis y director de la revista Teología y Catequesis.

Es miembro de la Real Academia de la Historia desde el 24 de febrero de 2008.

Igualmente, el Papa nombró al Cardenal Cañizares Prefecto de la Congregación para el Culto Divino y la Disciplina de los Sacramentos en diciembre de 2008.

De otro lado, el cardenal fue nombrado en 2010 “Doctor Honoris Causa” por la Universidad Católica de Valencia “San Vicente Mártir” (UCV)
Nombrado Arzobispo de Valencia el 28 de agosto de 2014.

Tomó posesión de la Archidiócesis el 4 de octubre de 2014

Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski was born on 24 July 1949 in Poznan. Then, in the years 1967-1973, he studied at the Archbishop’s Seminary in Poznan and at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Poznan. On May 24, 1973 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1974 he obtained a bachelor degree in theology.

In June 1977 he was obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. After returning to Poland, between 1980-1996 he was an assistant professor at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Poznań. In 1996 he was appointed associate professor at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Poznan. In the same year he was appointed visiting professor at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

On 17 May 1997 Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Poznan. In July 11, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Lodz. Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski is – as of 2014 – Deputy Chairman of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

Since September 30, 2012, he has been Chairman of the CCEE Commission for Catechesis, schools and universities.

On December 8, 2016, the Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow.

Born August 9, 1958 in Differdange (Luxembourg diocese), he spent his childhood in Vianden, where his family resided. Studies secondary education at the Clairefontaine Apostolic School and Lycée Classique de Diekirch (Luxembourg)

1978-1981: Begins his priestly formation at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he attended two years of philosophy and the first year of theology.
27.9.1981: Entrance in the Jesuit Company.
1981-1983: Novitiate in Namur (Jesuit Province of South Belgium and Luxembourg).
1983-1985: Pastoral internship in Luxembourg.
15.9.1985: Departure for Japan.
1985-1987: Studies of the language and Japanese culture.
1987-1989: Theological Studies at Sophia University Tokyo.
1989-1990: Degree in Theology at the philosophical-theological Hochschule Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt, Germany.
21.4.1990: Priestly ordination in Brussels.
1990-1994: Language Licence and German literature at the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich in Bavaria.
2001: PhD studies at the Institute for EU Studies in Bonn.
18.10.2002: Final Vows in the Church of St. Ignatius in Tokyo. He passes to the Jesuit Province of Japan.

On 12 July 2011, he was appointed Archbishop of Luxembourg by the Holy Father Benedict XVI . From October 2014, he is also the President of the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commission.

Rev Michel Petrus Remery (4 January 1973) was ordained priest in the diocese of Rotterdam on 5 June 2004. He studied architecture at Delft University of Technology, where he graduated in 1996. He worked as Project Manager at the Royal Airforce Infrastructures Department (1996-1997) and as Engineer-Director of a Tebodin and Shell project in Estonia (1998-1999).

He studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he gained a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology, examining the liturgy in particular (2006). He subsequently gained a Doctorate with a thesis on the link between liturgy and architecture, published under the title “Mystery and Matter” (2008).

He was a member of a consultative committee at the Holy See’s Internet Office on the use of new media and young people (2004-2006). From 2006-2012 he worked in three Dutch parishes, with particular emphasis on pastoral work with young people. He has organized and led pilgrimages with young people to Rome, Paris, the Holy Land, Surinam, Poland, and the World Youth Days in Toronto (2002), Cologne (2005), Sydney (2008) and Madrid (2011).

He was a Collaborator at the Apostolic Nunciature at The Hague (2006-2012). Since 2008 he has been a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Catholic Theology of Tilburg University focusing on academic research on the link between liturgy and architecture.

Since 2012 he has has been Vice Secretary General at CCEE.

He speaks Dutch, English, Italian, French, German and Spanish.

Born in Crosby, Liverpool, on 8 November 1945, Vincent Nichols studied for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome from 1963 to 1970, gaining licences in philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University. He was ordained priest in Rome on 21 December 1969 for the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

He then studied an MA degree in theology at Manchester University between 1970 and 1971. In January 1980 he was appointed director of the Upholland Northern Institute, where he was responsible for the in-service training of the clergy, pastoral and religious education courses. He was also a member of Archbishop’s Council with responsibility for pastoral formation and development in the diocese.

In January 1984, he was appointed general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference in England & Wales. From 1989 to 1996 he was moderator of the Steering Committee of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland.

Mgr Vincent Nichols was appointed auxiliary bishop to Westminster, with responsibility for North London, on 24 January 1992. In 1994 he became a member of the Finance Advisory Committee of the National Catholic Fund of the Bishops’ Conference. In 1995 he became a member of the Bishops’ Conference Committee for the Roman Colleges and in 1996 he was appointed Episcopal Liaison of the Bishops’ Conference for the National Conference of Diocesan Financial Secretaries. He has also been a member of the Joint Commission of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences and the Conference of European Churches (Protestant); vice president of the Bible Society and a member of the board of the Christian Academy for European Development at Louvain.

In 1998 Bishop Nichols was appointed chair of the Bishops’ Conference department for Catholic Education and Formation and also chair of the Catholic Education Service. He represented the European bishops at the November 1998 Synod of Bishops from Oceania and appointed by the Holy See to the Synod of Bishops for Europe in September 1999 as a special secretary.

In 2000, Bishop Nichols was appointed Archbishop of Birmingham. In 2001 Archbishop Nichols was appointed chair of the management board of the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults. In 2005, he provided the commentary for the worldwide BBC coverage of the death of Pope John Paul II and the Installation of Pope Benedict XVI.

In 2008 he was appointed President of the Commission for Schools, Universities and Catechesis of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE). On 21 May 2009 he was installed as the 11th Archbishop of Westminster following the retirement of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. He was elected President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales by unanimous acclamation on 30 April 2009. He received the Pallium in Rome from Pope Benedict XVI on 29 June 2009, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. In 2010 he received an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Birmingham University, and in 2011 he received an Honorary Doctorate of divinity from Liverpool Hope University.

On 22 February 2014, he received the red hat of a Cardinal from Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He was designated the titular Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori, a neo-Gothic church that is looked after by the Redemptorists. It is best known for housing the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a gift given to the Redemptorists by Pope Pius IX in 1866. On 27 May 2015, he was installed as the first Chancellor of St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

In October 2016, he was appointed Vice President of CCEE.

Sister Lola Arieta is an expert in the accompaniment of young people.

Armand Puig i Tàrrech  es decano de la Facultad de Teología de Catalunya. Es Biblista, autor del Bestseller sobre el Jesús histórico “Jesús un Biografía” (La Selva del Camp 1953).

Sacerdote de la diócesis de Barcelona y Tarragona. Doctor en Ciencias Bíblicas (S.S.D) por la Pontificia Comisión Bíblica (Roma 1984). Profesor ordinario de Nuevo Testamento de la Facultat de Teologia de Catalunya (Barcelona) y Decano-Presidente de la misma Facultad (desde 2006). Presidente de la Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (2011-2012).

Autor de diez libros y cien artículos sobre el Nuevo Testamento y literatura apócrifa, sobre traducciones bíblicas medievales y la basílica de la Sagrada Familia de Barcelona. Entre sus obras destacamos Jesús. An Uncommon Journey (2004); La Sagrada Familia según Gaudí (2011)