Cardinal Maradiaga: The sociopolitical advocate
The Archbishop of Tegucigalpa in Honduras, and President of the international Caritas, Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga, is considered a likely candidate for the office of the Roman Pontiff.
Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga is the first ever Cardinal from Honduras and was already considered papabile during the 2005 Conclave. Maradiaga said he feels unfit to be Pope, immediately after the first reports about his favorite. However, the Salesian of Don Bosco has a good chance to become Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.
Rodriguez Maradiaga was born on December 29 1942 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, studied theology, piano and composition, physics, mathematics, chemistry, philosophy and psychology in Tegucigalpa, Rome and Innsbruck. At the age of 28, he was ordained priest and taught chemistry, physics and mathematics.
In Innsbruck, Maradiaga acquired a diploma in clinical psychology and psychotherapy. As a psychotherapist, he is member of The European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. Since 1993, he is Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, and became president of the international Caritas in 2007. He is also a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.