Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne served as the Archbishop of Lima from 1999 to 2019, marking a career defined by his integration of religious authority and public controversy. Before his ordination, he competed as a member of the Peruvian national basketball team for six years, subsequently shifting his focus toward engineering and later, ecclesiastical administration within the Catholic Church.
Early Formation and Entry into the Priesthood
Born in Lima on 28 December 1943, Cipriani attended the Colegio Santa Maria Marianistas. He pursued industrial engineering at the National University of Engineering before joining Opus Dei and the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. Ordained as a priest on 21 August 1977, he expanded his academic profile by earning a doctorate in theology from the University of Navarre and holding a position at the University of Piura.
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Appointed titular Bishop of Turuzi and Auxiliary Bishop of Ayacucho on 23 May 1988, he received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal Juan Landázuri Ricketts. He became Archbishop of Ayacucho in 1995. During his tenure, he emerged as a polarizing figure regarding the state's military response to the Shining Path movement, openly advocating for capital punishment and defending military actions against insurgent activities.
Archbishop of Lima and Cardinalate
Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Lima in 1999. In 2001, he was elevated to the cardinalate, becoming the first priest incardinated into Opus Dei to receive the rank. As a cardinal elector, he participated in the 2005 and 2013 papal conclaves. He served as Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru until 2016, a period marked by significant administrative and ideological conflicts between his office and the university leadership.
Theological Stances and Public Controversies
Cipriani maintained a rigid conservative position on social issues throughout his career. He denounced same-sex unions and civil legislation, frequently framing these developments as threats to traditional societal structures. Furthermore, he faced criticism for his administrative handling of sexual abuse allegations involving the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, as well as for public comments regarding women that drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and the public.
Fast facts
- Born: 28 December 1943, Lima, Peru
- Ordained Priest: 21 August 1977
- Appointed Archbishop of Lima: 1999
- Elevated to Cardinal: 21 February 2001
- Education: National University of Engineering, University of Navarre
- Awards: Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
- Positions: Grand Chancellor (1999-2016)
- Membership: Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei
Questions readers ask
Was Cipriani the first Opus Dei member to become a cardinal?
Yes, he was the first priest incardinated into Opus Dei to be made a cardinal.
What was his role during the Japanese embassy hostage crisis?
He was selected as one of three mediators tasked with seeking a peaceful resolution and the release of hostages.
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