Luis Ladaria Ferrer

infobox bishopstyles
name=Luis Ladaria Ferrer
dipstyle=The Most Reverend
offstyle=Your Excellency
relstyle=Archbishop
deathstyle=not applicable |

Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, (born 19 April, 1944) is a Spanish Jesuit priest. He currently serves as Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Roman Curia, while still teaching at the Pontifical Gregorian University (where he resides) and remaining an active member of the International Theological Commission.

Biography

Luis Ladaria Ferrer was born in Manacor, on the island of Majorca (Spain), and studied at the University of Madrid, graduating with a degree in law in 1966. He entered the Society of Jesus on 17 October, 1966. After attending the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid and the Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Ladaria was ordained to the priesthood on 29 July, 1973.

He later obtained his doctrate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1975, with a thesis entitled, "The Holy Spirit in St. Hilary of Poitiers". In that same year, he became professor of dogmatic theology at the Comillas Pontifical University, later assuming the same position at the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome in 1984. Ladaria was vice-rector of the Gregorian from 1986 to 1994, and a member of the International Theological Commission from 1992 to 1997. He served as a consultor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 1995 as well.

In March 2004, he was named Secretary-General of the International Theological Commission. Ladaria, beginning in 2006, led the Holy See's evaluation of the concept of limbo, that is, of the fate of children who die before receiving the sacrament of Baptism; he was of the opinion that there existed hope that these children would be able to find salvation and enjoy the beatific vision.

On 9 July, 2008, he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Titular Archbishop of "Thibica" by Pope Benedict XVI. As Secretary, Ladaria serves as the second-highest official of that dicastery under William Cardinal Levada. He succeeds Archbishop Angelo Amato, S.D.B., who was made Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He will nevertheless retain his role within the International Theological Commission [Catholic World News. [http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=59559 Confirmed: New Prefect for Congregation for Saints] July 9, 2008] . His episcopal ordination took place on 26 July 2008 (the ordaining prelate being Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, S.D.B. and the co-consecrators William Joseph Cardinal Levada and Bishop Vincenzo Paglia).

Ladaria is considered to be theologically conservative, and subscribes to ressourcement, a return to earlier sources, traditions, and symbols of the Church [National Catholic Reporter. [http://ncrcafe.org/node/1982 "Kind" and "reliable" Jesuit Named To Vatican's Top Doctrinal Post] July 11, 2008] . He also has a predilection for patrology and Christology.

References

External links

* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bladaria.html Catholic-Hierarchy]
* [http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/22399.php?index=22399&lang=en Holy See Press Office]
* [http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803577.htm Catholic News Service]