Baltazar Porras was sworn in as a member of the National Academy of History
This Wednesday, December 4, it took place the act of incorporation of the Cardinal Baltazar Porras as a member of the National Academy of History of Venezuela.
Porras, incorporated unanimously, will occupy seat P, which belonged to the historian Guillermo Morón, who died in 2021.
«I am greatly honored, and in the same way the ecclesial community that I represent, the unanimous election of this illustrious academy, to occupy the vacant chair due to the heartfelt death of the distinguished member Mr. Guillermo Morón«, indicated Porras.
During his speech, he highlighted the friendship he had with Morón and his important role in recording the contemporary history of Venezuela.
He stated that although he is not a historian, his work in the Catholic Church for almost his entire life has led him to portray important events in the nation.
Baltazar Porras, renowned chronicler, essayist and linguist
The cardinal is a renowned chronicler, essayist and linguist. In 2020 he was incorporated into the National Academy of Language as a corresponding member.
He was born on October 10, 1944 in Caracas and was ordained a priest in 1967. In 1983 Pope Saint John Paul II appointed him head of Lamdia and auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Mérida until 1991 when he became head of that jurisdiction.
On November 19, 2016, he was appointed cardinal by Pope Francis and in 2018 he took over as apostolic administrator of Caracas after the resignation of Jorge Urosa Savino.
He was president of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (1999-2006) and vice president of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (Celam) from 2007 to 2011.
He studied philosophy at the Interdiocesan Seminary of Caracas (1955-1962) and was sent to the Pontifical University of Salamanca, Spain, (1962-1966), where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology, in 1966. He also studied a doctorate in Pastoral Theology at the Higher Institute of Pastoral of the same University in 1977.
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