College of Cardinals

Biographical notes

[Updated: 06.02.2014]

Notice: the biographical notes are only a working instrument for the press.

NJUE Card. John

Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya), was born in 1944 at Kiriari, Embu District, Kenya. He was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI on 6 January 1973. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.

In 1974 he was appointed philosophy professor and dean of students at St. Augustine Senior Seminary, Mabanga in Bungoma, of which he was also rector from 1978 to 1982.

In 1982, he was appointed to Chuka Parish as its first African parish priest. He then served as rector of St. Josephs Philosophicum Seminary in Nairobi until his appointment on 9 June 1986 as the first Bishop of Embu. He was ordained bishop on 20 September of that year and then coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri on 23 January 2002. From 2005-2006, he was Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Isiolo. He was also Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Muranga (2006-2009).

On 6 October 2007 he was appointed Archbishop of Nairobi.

He has been chairman of various commissions, such as the Episcopal commission for major seminaries in Kenya and the Kenya Episcopal Conferences Justice and Peace Commission. Since 2006 has been president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 November 2007, of the Title of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo (Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ).

Member of:

Congregations: for the Evangelization of Peoples; for the Clergy; for Catholic Education;
Pontifical Councils: for Social Communications; for the Laity.
II Special Council for Africa of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

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