Ignacio Velasco

Antonio Ignacio Velasco García, S.D.B. (17 January 1929 – 6 July 2003) was a Venezuelan prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Archbishop of Caracas from 27 May 1995 until his death.

His Eminence

Antonio Ignacio Velasco García
Archbishop of Caracas
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseCaracas
SeeCaracas
Appointed27 May 1995
Installed14 July 1995
Term ended6 July 2003
PredecessorJosé Alí Lebrún Moratinos
SuccessorJorge Liberato Urosa Savino
Other postsCardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Domenica Mazzarello (2001–03)
Orders
Ordination17 December 1955
by Antonio Samorè
Consecration6 January 1990
by Pope John Paul II
Created cardinal21 February 2001
by Pope John Paul II
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth nameAntonio Ignacio Velasco García
Born(1929-01-17)17 January 1929
Acarigua, Venezuela
Died6 July 2003(2003-07-06) (aged 74)
Caracas, Venezuela
Previous post
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
MottoServus Christi pro fratribus
Styles of
Ignacio Antonio Velasco García
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeCaracas

Velasco was born on 17 January 1929 in Acarigua, Venezuela. He was ordained a priest on 17 December 1955.

On 23 October 1989, Pope John Paul II named him Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Ayacucho and titular bishop of Utimmira. He received his episcopal consecration on 27 January 1990. John Paul named him Archbishop of Caracas on 27 May 1994 and Velasco was installed there on 14 July.

He made Velasco a cardinal on 21 February 2001[1] and assigned him as Cardinal-Priest to the titular church of Santa Maria Domenica Mazzarello.

Velasco was known for his criticisms of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. In 2001 he appealed to the government to take attacks on Catholic churches more seriously.[2] After Chavez repeatedly attacked the Church, Velasco said: "Every day I turn another cheek. I have no cheeks left because every day there is a new insult."[3]

During the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt, Velasco attended the swearing in of Chavez' replacement, signed the Carmona Decree that disestablished the Chavez regime, and visited Chavez in exile in Orchila.[4] Velasco later disassociated himself from the coup and his role remains unclear, combining an attempt to get Chavez to resign, an effort to protect Chavez' life, and doubts about the leadership of the short-lived coup.[5] His personal antagonistic relationship with Chavez divided the conservative Church hierarchy from clergy who supported the radical social programs of the Chavez government.[3]

Velasco died on 6 July 2003 after a long illness[6] and treatment in Spain for cancer.[3]

After Velasco's death, Chávez drew fire for his controversial statement that the Cardinal was "burning in hell".

References
  1. "37 church leaders Pope John Paul II elevated to the College of Cardinals". National Catholic Reporter. 2 February 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Church in Caracas Demands Government Action After Attacks". Zenit. 3 August 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. "Cardinal Velasco". The Telegraph. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  4. Smilde, David; Hellinger, Daniel (2011). Venezuela's Bolivarian Democracy: Participation, Politics, and Culture Under Chávez. Duke University Press. p. 326. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  5. Nelson, Brian A. (2008). The Silence and the Scorpion: The Coup Against Chavez and the Making of Modern Venezuela. Public Affairs. pp. 245ff. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  6. "Cardinal Ignacio Velasco of Venezuela, 74". New York Times. Reuters. 8 July 2003. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
José Lebrún Moratinos		 Archbishop of Caracas
27 May 1995 – 6 July 2003		 Succeeded by
Jorge Urosa
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