Rolandas Makrickas

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His Eminence

Rolandas Makrickas
Coadjutor Archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Appointed20 March 2024
Other post(s)Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Eustachio (2024–)
Previous post(s)Diplomat of the Holy See (2006–2021)
Titular Bishop of Tolentino (2023–2024)
Orders
Ordination30 July 1996
by Juozas Preikšas
Consecration15 April 2023
by Pietro Parolin
Created cardinal7 December 2024
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Born (1972-01-31) 31 January 1972 (age 52)
Biržai, Soviet Union
NationalityLithuanian
Motto
  • Deus fidelis manet
  • (God stays loyal)
Coat of armsRolandas Makrickas's coat of arms

Rolandas Makrickas (born 31 January 1972) is a Lithuanian Catholic prelate who has served as coadjutor archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore since 2024. He worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 2006 to 2021, when he was given responsibility for reorganizing the administration of the basilica. He was given the personal title of archbishop in 2023. He was made a cardinal on 7 December 2024 by Pope Francis.

Biography

Early life and education

Rolandas Makrickas was born on 31 January 1972 in Biržai, Lithuania,[1] the youngest of five children.[2] Because Soviet authorities restricted religious practice and catechesis, his early religious education was private and tersely accomplished. The end of the Soviet era allowed him to gain a more extensive understanding of his faith and ways of experiencing beyond ritual. While young he flew gliders and briefly considered a career in aviation.[2]

He entered Kaunas Priest Seminary in 1990, the second year it operated, and beginning in 1991 lived at the St. Casimir Lithuanian College in Rome while studying philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.[2] He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Panevėžys on 30 July 1996. From 1996 to 2001 he was under-secretary of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference and headed the National Committee of the Great Jubilee of 2000. He earned a doctorate in church history at the Gregorian in 2004.[1]

Diplomatic service

He studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy from 2003 to 2006[citation needed] and joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 2006 and fulfilled assignments first in Bolivia,[2] in Georgia where he witnessed the destruction of the Russo-Georgian War,[2] and in Sweden where the nunciature was responsible for several northern countries.[1] He served in the United States from 2013 to 2017, which included a papal visit. For two years, he was chargeé d'affairs in Gabon and counselor in Congo,[3] where he joined in the Church's delivery of social services and managed a construction project.[2]

On 10 August 2019, he joined the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State in Rome[1] as head of administration, the first non-Italian to hold that position.[4] In that role he participated in the reorganization of the Vatican's financial and administrative functions.[2]

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

On 15 December 2021, Pope Francis appointed him extraordinary commissioner with responsibility for managing the assets of the chapter of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, citing "the particular complexities of the economic and financial management of the Chapter ... exacerbated by the spread of the [COVID-19] pandemic".[5][a] The pope left a meeting to offer him the post in a brief hallway conversation.[2] Despite that characterization of his role, he repeatedly acted as spokesperson for the basilica's events and initiatives.[7][8][9][10]

On 23 February 2023, the pope made him titular bishop of Tolentino with the personal title of archbishop.[1] Makrickas received his episcopal consecration on 15 April from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, with co-consecrators Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Archpriest of Santa Maria Maggiore, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra.[11]

On 20 March 2024, ending Makrickas' role as commissioner and redefining the role of the Basilica's canons,[6] Pope Francis named him coadjutor archpriest of Santa Maria Maggiore.[12]

Pope Francis announced on 6 October 2024 that he planned to make him a cardinal on 8 December,[13] a date that was later changed to 7 December.[14]

On 7 December 2024, Pope Francis made him a cardinal, assigning him as a member of the order of cardinal deacons the deaconry of Sant'Eustachio.[15]

Notes

  1. ^ When Makrickas ended his work as commissioner, Pope Francis described his remit differently: "the task of reorganizing the life of the Chapter and the Basilica".[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Rinunce e nomine, 11.02.2023" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Diplomatinė tarnyba: nieko neprašyti ir nieko neatsisakyti" [Diplomatic service: ask for nothing and refuse nothing]. Šiaurės Rytai (Interview) (in Lithuanian). Interviewed by Faustina Elena Andrulytė. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  3. ^ Gagliarducci, Andrea (27 August 2019). "How the Vatican Secretariat of State is changing". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Lithuanian appointed as first non-Italian head of administration at Vatican's Secretariat of State". LRT. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Holy See Press Office Communiqué, 15.12.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Chirografo di Sua Santità Francesco per l'approvazione dello Statuto e del Regolamento del Capitolo della Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, 20.03.2024" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  7. ^ Piccione, Antonino (22 December 2022). "An unprecedented living nativity scene in the heart of Rome". Omnes Magazine. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Pope Francis Gives the Golden Rose to the 'Salus'" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  9. ^ Rytel-Andrianik, Paweł (11 October 2023). "Archbishop Makrickas: St. Mary Major gets a new 'online door'". Vatican News. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  10. ^ Estores, Rechilda (9 June 2023). "Pope's Basilica to celebrate Corpus Christi with relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux". Vatican News. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  11. ^ Campisi, Tiziana (15 April 2023). "Parolin: la pace non è frutto di trattati, ma si accoglie nel cuore per poi testimoniarla". Vatican News (in Italian). Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 20.03.2024" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  13. ^ Castellano Lubov, Deborah (6 October 2024). "Pope Francis announces Consistory for creation of new Cardinals". Vatican News. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  14. ^ Brockhaus, Hannah (12 October 2024). "Vatican Shares Pope Francis' Schedule for December Consistory to Create Cardinals". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali, 07.12.2024" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
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