Cardinal br. Seán Patrick O’Malley
Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., was professed as a Capuchin Franciscan in 1965 and ordained a priest in 1970. He earned a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese literature from The Catholic University of America, where he taught from 1969 to 1973. Cardinal O’Malley founded Centro Catolico Hispano (Hispanic Catholic Center), an organization that assists immigrants. He was named bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1985, of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., in 1992, of Palm Beach, Fla. in 2002 and Archbishop of Boston in 2003. He was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in March, 2006. Cardinal O’Malley serves on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Pro-Life Activities and the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America, among others. In 2010 Pope Benedict appointed Cardinal O’Malley as a Visitator for the Church in Ireland. In 2013 Pope Francis appointed to Cardinal O’Malley to the Council of Cardinals and in 2014 as President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. In September of 2018 Pope Francis appointed Cardinal O’Malley to the Synod on Amazonia