College of Cardinals

Biographical notes

[Updated: 26.10.2012]

Notice: the biographical notes are only a working instrument for the press, for the exclusive use of accredited journalists.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, Archbishop emeritus of Québec, was born on 8 June 1944 in Lamotte, near Amos, Canada. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Amos on 25 May 1968. He holds licentiates in theology and philosophy, and a doctorate in dogmatic theology.
Cardinal Ouellet served as consultor to the Sulpicians’ Provincial Council of Canada, and then director and teacher at the Major Seminary of Montreal, where he became rector in 1990. He also served briefly as rector of St Joseph's Seminary, Edmonton.
He was consultor to the Congregation for the Clergy, then to the General Council of the Priests of Saint Sulpice. He later taught at the John Paul II Institute at the Pontifical Lateran University, where in 1997 he was appointed to the chair of dogmatic theology.
On 3 March 2001, he was named titular Bishop of Agropoli and Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; Pope John Paul II ordained him a Bishop on 19 March of that year.
On 15 November 2002, Cardinal Ouellet was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Quebec.
Cardinal Ouellet is a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology.
Relator General of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church” (5-26 October 2008).

On 30 June 2010 he was nominated Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 October 2003, of the Title of S. Maria in Traspontina (Holy Mary in Transpontina).

Member of:

• Secretariat of State (second section);
• Congregations: for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments; for Catholic Education; for the Clergy;  for the Doctrine of the Fait; for the Oriental Churches;
• Pontifical Councils for Culture; for Promoting New Evangelization; for Legislative Texts;
• Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.

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