The Salesian Cardinals

Don Bosco’s Sons Who Became Cardinals

Abp. Riccardo Ezzati

(ANS – Rome – Sept. 26, 2023) – The first Salesian to be appointed cardinal Pope Francis was an Italian who is Chilean “by adoption”: Riccardo Ezzati Andrello, at the time archbishop of Santiago, Chile, created cardinal in the consistory of February 22, 2014.

Riccardo Ezzati, often referred to as “Ricardo,” due to the many years he has spent in Chile, was born in Campiglia dei Berici, in the province of Vicenza, Italy, on January 7, 1942, to Mario Ezzati and Assunta Andrello. He completed his elementary studies in the municipal school in his district. The first sign of his vocation dates back to those years: one day the mother of a friend came to visit his family and told him about her son who was preparing to attend a Salesian vocational guidance center. He decided to follow in his footsteps, so he enrolled in the high school at Penango, in the province of Asti. And when at the age of 18 he arrived in Chile, in 1960, he immediately entered the Salesian novitiate at Quilpué.

He made his first religious profession on January 31, 1961, then studied philosophy and pedagogy at the Salesian institute affiliated with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso, and from 1964 to 1966 he taught at Camilo Ortuzar Montt High School in Santiago.

Returning to Italy to complete his studies in theology, he took courses at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome and obtained his licentiate. Subsequently he moved to the University of Strasbourg, France, where he gained his master’s degree in religious pedagogy. Returning to Chile, he taught religion and philosophy at the Catholic University of Valparaiso, until he made his perpetual profession on December 30, 1966, and was ordained on March 18, 1970.

Admiring his loyalty to the mission and professional and human skills, the superiors entrusted him with various tasks in the following years. From 1971 to 1972 he was responsible for the pastoral care of the Salesian school in Valdivia. From 1973 to 1977 he worked in Concepcion, as superior of the local religious community and director of the Salesian school. In 1978 he was appointed director of the Salesian formation center in Santiago, as well as being named a provincial councilor.

At the same time, he also continued teaching: he taught fundamental pastoral care in the School of Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and was a member and director of the Centro de Estudios y Experiencias Catequísticas. In 1984, during General Chapter 22, he was appointed provincial of the Chilean Salesians, and shortly thereafter he was also elected vice president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Men and Women of Chile.

In 1991 he was called to the Vatican to collaborate with Archbishop Errazuriz Ossa, then secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop on June 28, 1996, assigning him the diocese of Valdivia, which he took possession of on September 8, 1996.

On July 10, 2001, he was transferred to the titular church of La Imperial and at the same time appointed auxiliary bishop of Santiago.

After many years of dedicated service to the Church and the people of Chile, on April 24, 2006, the President of the Republic, at the request of the National Congress, granted him Chilean citizenship “by special grace.”

On December 27, Benedict XVI appointed him archbishop of Concepcion.

In the Chilean Episcopal Conference he was a member of the pastoral committee, where he presided over the area of education for two terms. He has also been part of the seminary committee, the pastoral care of vocations, and the mixed commission of major superiors and bishops. He has been a member of the standing committee since 2007.

He also held various duties and positions within the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), including member of the Department of Consecrated Life and President of the Department of Culture and Education; he also participated, in 2007, in the historic 5th General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Aparecida, Brazil.

On December 15, 2010, Benedict XVI appointed him archbishop of Santiago. That year the Episcopal Conference elected him its president, a position that was renewed on November 8, 2013, for another 3 years. In the Chilean capital, he aimed above all to educate people to share with the poorest. He stressed the fact that there is no shortage of goods, but a fairer and more just distribution is necessary to transform the country into a “mesa para todos” (a table for all), according to the slogan launched to raise awareness among the faithful. He called on the laity to shared responsibility in the new evangelization. Also noteworthy is his contribution to the enhancement of consecrated life, through documents and interventions.

He was created cardinal in the consistory of February 22, 2014,and  he became archbishop emeritus of Santiago on March 23, 2019, at the age of 77.