Luis Ladaria Ferrer

Styles of Luis Ladaria Ferrer
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop
Posthumous style	not applicable

Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer S.J. (born 19 April 1944) is a Spanish Jesuit and a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Roman Curia, and he teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He is also an active member of the International Theological Commission.

Biography

Luis Ladaria Ferrer was born in Manacor, on the island of Majorca, Spain. He 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.

In 1975 he obtained a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, with a thesis entitled, The Holy Spirit in St Hilary of Poitiers, and became professor of dogmatic theology at the Comillas Pontifical University. In 1984, he assumed the same position at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he was vice-rector from 1986 to 1994. He became a member of the International Theological Commission in 1992 and a consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1995.

In March 2004, Ladaria Ferrer was named Secretary-General of the International Theological Commission. He led the Commission's evaluation, beginning in 2006, of the concept of limbo. The Commission concluded that there is hope that children who die unbaptized are able to receive salvation and enjoy the beatific vision.

On 9 July 2008, Ladaria Ferrer was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Titular Archbishop of Thibica by Pope Benedict XVI. He continued to be general secretary of the International Theological Commission^[1] until 22 April 2009, when he resigned and was succeeded by Charles Morerod, O.P.

His episcopal consecration took place on 26 July 2008. The principal consecrator was Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone SDB, his predecessor as Secretary of the Congregation. The co-consecrators were Cardinal William Joseph Levada and Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, one of the founders of the Community of Sant'Egidio.

Ladaria Ferrer is considered to be theologically orthodox and subscribes to ressourcement, a return to earlier sources, traditions, and symbols of the Church.^[2] He also has a predilection for patrology and Christology. On 13 November 2008, he was appointed a consultor of the Congregation for Bishops , and on 31 January 2009, a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

He was named a member of the Holy See's team charged with the dialogue with the Society of St. Pius X that began on 26 October 2009.^[3]

On 2 August 2016, he was named President of the Study Commission on the Women’s Diaconate, formed by Pope Francis to consider the possibility of allowing women to serve as deacons.^[4]

References

1. ↑ "Confirmed: New Prefect for Congregation for Saints". Catholic World News. 9 July 2008. 
2. ↑ Allen Jr., John L. (11 July 2008). ""Kind" and "reliable" Jesuit Named To Vatican's Top Doctrinal Post". National Catholic Reporter. 
3. ↑ "Traditionalist bishop cites lack of progress in talks with Vatican". 
4. ↑ McElwee, Joshua J. (2 August 2016). "Francis institutes commission to study female deacons, appointing gender-balanced membership". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2 August 2016. 

External links

• Catholic-Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}
• Holy See Press Office
• Catholic News Service