15 BEAUTIFUL FACTS ABOUT CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE

1. Born on All Saints’ Day: Francis Arinze was born on November 1, 1932, in Eziowelle, present-day Anambra State.
2. He came from a traditional religious family: His parents initially practised traditional African religion before the family embraced Catholicism.
3. He became a Catholic at nine: He was baptised on November 1, 1941, his ninth birthday.
4. He was baptised by a future saint: The priest who baptised him was Father Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, who was later beatified by Pope John Paul II.
5. He entered the seminary at 15: His journey towards becoming a Catholic priest began at a remarkably young age.
6. He studied in Rome: He travelled to Italy in 1955 for theological studies at the Pontifical Urban University.
7. He became a priest in 1958: He was ordained on November 23, 1958, in Rome.
8. He became a bishop at just 32: In 1965, he was consecrated a bishop, making him one of the youngest bishops in the world at the time.
9. He made history in Onitsha: In 1967, he became the first Black Archbishop of Onitsha
10. He led Nigerian Catholic bishops: He served as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria from 1979 to 1984.
11. He became a cardinal in 1985: Pope John Paul II elevated him to the College of Cardinals on May 25, 1985.
12. He became an important Vatican figure: He headed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue from 1985 to 2002.
13. He worked closely with different religions: Promoting understanding and dialogue between Christians and followers of other religions was a major part of his Vatican assignment.
14. He served under Pope Benedict XVI: In 2002, he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, a position he held until 2008.
15. He preached to the Pope and senior Vatican officials: In 2009, he was invited to preach the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia, which Pope Benedict XVI also attended.