{{Short description|Mexican Catholic cardinal}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{family name hatnote|Aguiar|Retes|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Carlos Aguiar Retes | honorific-suffix = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City|Archbishop of Mexico City]]<br> and [[Primate (bishop)|Primate of Mexico]] | image = Cardenalaguiar.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Cardinal Aguiar in 2020 | native_name = | native_name_lang = | church = [[Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City|Mexico City]] | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = Mexico City | elected = | appointed = 7 December 2017 | enthroned = 5 February 2018 | term = | term_start = | term_end = | quashed = | predecessor = [[Norberto Rivera Carrera]] | successor = | opposed = | other_post = [[Santi Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli|Cardinal-Priest of Santi Fabriano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli]] (since 2016) <!---------- Orders ---------->| ordination = 22 April 1973 | ordained_by = | consecration = 29 June 1997 | consecrated_by = [[Adolfo Antonio Suárez Rivera]] | cardinal = 19 November 2016 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] <!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_name = Carlos Aguiar Retes | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|01|09|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Tepic]], [[Mexico]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | tomb = | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = | religion = | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Texcoco|Bishop of Texcoco]] (1997–2009)|[[Latin American Episcopal Council|Secretary General of the Latin American Episcopal Council]] (2000–03)|First Vice-President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (2003–07)|[[Mexican Episcopal Conference|President of the Mexican Episcopal Conference]] (2006–12)|President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (2011–15)|[[Archbishop of Tlalnepantla]] (2009–17)}} | education = | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|[[Pontifical Latin American College]]|[[Pontifical Biblical Institute]]|[[Pontifical Gregorian University]]}} | motto = {{lang|es|Que todos sean uno}}<br/>(May all be one) | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Carlos Aguiar Retes.svg | coat_of_arms_alt = <!---------- Other ----------> | module = | other = }} {{Ordination | ordained deacon by = | date of diaconal ordination = | place of diaconal ordination = | ordained priest by = | date of priestly ordination = 22 April 1973 | place of priestly ordination = | consecrated by = [[Adolfo Antonio Suarez Rivera]] | co-consecrators = [[Magín Camerino Torreblanca Reyes]]<br/>[[Alfonso Humberto Robles Cota]] | date of consecration = 29 June 1997 | elevated by = [[Pope Francis]] | date of elevation = 19 November 2016 | bishop 1 = [[Luis Artemio Flores Calzada]] | consecration date 1 = 8 September 2003 | bishop 2 = [[Víctor René Rodríguez Gomez]] | consecration date 2 = 25 July 2006 | bishop 3 = [[Guillermo Francisco Escobar Galicia]] | consecration date 3 = 24 February 2009 | bishop 4 = [[Efraín Mendoza Cruz]] | consecration date 4 = 29 July 2011 | bishop 5 = [[Jorge Cuapio Bautista]] | consecration date 5 = 27 May 2016 }} {{Infobox cardinal styles |name = Carlos Aguiar Retes |image = Coat of arms of Carlos Aguiar Retes.svg |image_size = 200px |dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] |offstyle = [[His Eminence|Your Eminence]] |relstyle = [[Cardinal (Catholic)|Cardinal]] |deathstyle = }} '''Carlos Aguiar Retes''' ({{IPA|es|ˈkaɾlos aˈɣjaɾ ˈretes}}; born 9 January 1950) is a Mexican cardinal of the [[Catholic Church]] who serves as the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico|Archbishop of Mexico City.]] He has served as an officer of the [[Mexican Episcopal Conference]] and the [[Latin American Episcopal Conference]] (CELAM) and been president of both. He helped draft the landmark mission statement CELAM issued at the close of its 2007 conference in Aparecida. He was archbishop of Tlalnepantla from 2009 to 2017 and Bishop of Texcoco from 1997 to 2009. David Agren of the [[Catholic News Service]] calls him a "longtime ally" of Pope Francis who combines "intellectual finesse with a pastoral passion".<ref name=ally/>
==Biography== Aguiar Retes was born on 9 January 1950, in [[Tepic]], [[Mexico]], the second of six children. His parents were Carlos Aguiar Manjarrez and María Teresa Retes Pérez-Sandi. He studied Humanities and Philosophy at the Seminary of Tepic, graduating in 1969, and theology at the Pontifical Seminary of Montezuma in [[Montezuma, New Mexico]], in the United States through 1972, and at the Seminary of [[Tula de Allende|Tula]], [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]], finishing in 1973.<ref name=arquidiocesis>{{cite web| url=https://www.tierradeenmedio.org.mx/arquidiocesis/obispos/carlos-aguiar|title=Mons. Carlos Aguiar Retes|publisher= Arquidiócesis de Tlalnepantla|date=2014|language=es|access-date=25 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232117/https://www.tierradeenmedio.org.mx/arquidiocesis/obispos/carlos-aguiar | archive-date=13 September 2017 | url-status=live}}</ref>
===Priesthood=== He was ordained a deacon on 24 December 1971. He was ordained a priest on 23 April 1973<ref name=holysee>{{cite web| access-date = 24 October 2017| title= Aguiar Retes Card. Carlos |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_aguiar-retes_c.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904064741/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_aguiar-retes_c.html }}</ref> in the Cathedral of Tepic. That year he began working as parochial vicar in the Parish of St. Maria Goretti, where he remained until 1974. He studied in Rome at the [[Pontifical Latin American College]] from 1974 to 1977, where he earned a degree in Holy Scripture from the [[Pontifical Biblical Institute]]. He returned to Mexico and was appointed rector of the Seminary of Tepic.<ref name=arquidiocesis />
In 1991 he returned to Rome to continue his studies. From 1992 to 1993 he was part of a team of biblical scholars who prepared the edition of ''la Biblia de América'', a translation of the Bible into accessible language.<ref>{{cite news|title=Conoce a Carlos Aguiar Retes, el nuevo arzobispo primado de México|url=http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-carlos-aguiar-retes.html|access-date=9 December 2017| language=es | work=El Financiero|date=7 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Septién|first1=Jaime|title=Biblia de América: Un Jesús más actual y valiente|url=https://es.aleteia.org/2015/05/09/biblia-de-america-un-jesus-mas-actual-y-valiente/|access-date=9 December 2017| language=es |work=Aleteia|date=9 May 2015}}</ref> In 1996 he completed a doctorate in biblical theology at the Pontifical [[Gregorian University]], with a thesis "Criticism of the prophets fasting". Between 1996 and 1997 he held the chair of Sacred Scripture at the [[Universidad Pontificia de México|Pontifical University of Mexico]], where he was also rector of the John XXIII Residence for Priests.<ref name=arquidiocesis />
In addition to Spanish, Aguiar is fluent in Italian, English, French and German.<ref name=blends>{{cite news |work =Crux |date =12 October 2016 |url =https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/10/12/mexicos-newest-cardinal-blends-francis-benedict-xvi/ |access-date =9 December 2017 |title =Mexico's newest cardinal blends Francis with Benedict XVI |first =Inés |last =San Martín |archive-date =9 December 2017 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20171209152213/https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/10/12/mexicos-newest-cardinal-blends-francis-benedict-xvi/ |url-status =dead }}</ref>
===Bishop and archbishop=== On 28 May 1997 [[Pope John Paul II]] appointed him the third bishop of Texcoco.<ref name=holysee/> He was ordained a bishop on 29 June. He was named a member of the [[Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue]] on 8 March 2007.<ref>{{cite press release| title= Rinunce e Nomine, 2007.03.08 | access-date=8 December 2017 | url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2007/03/08/0115/00322.html | date= 8 March 2007 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | language=it}}</ref>
In May 2003, he was elected to a four-year term as Vice President of the Latin American Bishops' Conference (CELAM).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://zenit.org/articles/chilean-cardinal-errazuriz-elected-new-president-of-celam/|title=Chilean Cardinal Errazuriz Elected New President of CELAM |access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=16 May 2003}}</ref> In preparation for that year's conference held in [[Aparecida]], Brazil, he authored a paper on globalization and the new evangelization that linked the devaluation of local cultures and traditional community-sanctioned norms to the economic forces behind mass migration and environmental damage.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 9 January 2018 | url = https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2018/01/09/popes-speech-diplomats-reflects-latin-american-background/ | date = 9 January 2018 | work = Crux | first = Austen | last = Ivereigh | title = Pope's speech to diplomats reflects his Latin American background | archive-date = 9 January 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180109145555/https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2018/01/09/popes-speech-diplomats-reflects-latin-american-background/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> At the conference, he served on the drafting committee headed by Cardinal [[Jorge Bergoglio]] (later Pope Francis)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=CELAM update: 'Option for the Poor' alive and well in Latin America|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/celam-update-option-poor-alive-and-well-latin-america|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=21 May 2007}}</ref> that produced a conference statement that endorsed key elements of [[liberation theology]] recast as less overtly political and integrated into the Church's mission.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=CELAM update: The lasting legacy of liberation theology|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/celam-update-lasting-legacy-liberation-theology|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=24 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=Sorting out the results of the Latin American bishops' meeting|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/sorting-out-results-latin-american-bishops-meeting|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=1 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=CTSA: Latin American bishops flag poverty, ecology and indigenous peoples|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/ctsa-latin-american-bishops-flag-poverty-ecology-and-indigenous-peoples|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=9 June 2007}}</ref>
In 2008 he discussed the relationship between the Mexican bishops and drug traffickers who at times funded the construction of local churches. After several other bishops denied the Church accepted donations of funds from illegal activities, Aguiar said the drug lords "are generous and often they provide money for building a church or chapel" and "install electricity, establish communication links, highways [and] roads" in poor communities. He said that some criminals hope to ease their consciences through good works and seek reassurances from the clergy: "There has been a rapprochement with them as it's known that discretion is going to be kept. What they want is to encounter peace in their consciences. What they're going to get from us is a sharp response: Change your life."<ref>{{cite news| last1=Schmidt|first1=Brigitte|last2=Agren | first2=David |title=Mexican bishops deny church accepts donations from drug lords| url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/mexican-bishops-deny-church-accepts-donations-drug-lords|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|agency=Catholic News Service|date=7 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Narcos financian iglesia católica en México|url=http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/27389/narcos-financian-iglesia-catolica-en-mexico|access-date=9 December 2017|language=es|work=Radio La Primerisima|agency=Agencia AFP|date=7 April 2008|archive-date=10 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210071629/http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/27389/narcos-financian-iglesia-catolica-en-mexico|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 5 February 2009, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] named him Archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tlalnepantla|Tlalnepantla]].<ref>{{cite press release| title= Rinunce e Nomine, 2009.02.05 | access-date=8 December 2017 | url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2009/02/05/0089/00218.html | date= 5 February 2009 |publisher = Holy See Press Office | language=it}}</ref> He was installed on 31 March. One analyst of church appointments noted that this was a less prestigious appointment than his career path indicated, suggesting Pope Benedict had expressed some disfavor in failing to appoint him to the archdioceses of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guadalajara|Guadalajara]] in 2011 and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monterrey|Monterrey]] in 2012.<ref name=primate/>
In May 2011, when he was head of the [[Mexican Episcopal Conference]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Mexican archbishop elected new president of CELAM|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/mexican-archbishop-elected-new-president-celam|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|agency=Catholic News Service|date=19 May 2011}}</ref> he was elected to a four-year term as President of the Latin American Bishops' Conference (CELAM).<ref>{{cite news|title=Latin American Bishops Elect Leader From Mexico|url=https://zenit.org/articles/latin-american-bishops-elect-leader-from-mexico/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=20 May 2011}}</ref> He previously served as the organization's secretary-general and vice president. He presented an interviewer with his assessment of the Latin American church as "the transition from a time when Christian values were accepted by everyone to a situation where the models are changing, and a multi-cultural society is forming". He said:<ref name=humility>{{cite news | date= 1 June 2011 |url= http://www.30giorni.it/articoli_id_77761_l3.htm | access-date = 9 December 2017 | work= 30Days |title = Only humility keeps us free of blackmail | first= Gianni | last= Valence}}</ref> {{Blockquote|We can't take the view that our primary task is to stand on the threshold checking whether or not people have the administrative requirements for belonging to the Church. This is the moment to proclaim the essentials of Christianity, to everybody. To people as they are, in the concrete circumstances in which they live now, with the expectations that they now have. In the area of Mexico where I live, there are twelve dioceses where people live who come and go each day because of their vital needs. That’s the point, we must take on board all the new conditions of coexistence. For example, making access to the sacraments easier, so that the demands of the parish do not become a reason to lose all contact with the Church.}} He said that ideological descriptions of church activity were outdated, that most of the Church leadership recognized the need to promote government policies rather than align themselves with a particular government, and that humility about the Church's failings would render media attempts to "denigrate the ecclesiastical institution" harmless.<ref name=humility/> He nevertheless worked in concert with local government officials, including [[Enrique Peña Nieto]], the Governor of the state of Mexico who later became President of Mexico. The state government helped fund some religious instruction. In 2009 Aguiar helped negotiate an enhanced constitutional recognition of religious liberty.<ref name=ally/> He worked with Governor [[Eruviel Ávila]] and representatives of other religions on a statement of shared values, the "Pact for the Strengthening of Values with Religious Associations" ("Pacto por el Fortalecimiento de los Valores con Asociaciones Religiosas"), to coordinate efforts to strengthen social institutions.<ref name=siametrabajo>{{cite news | publisher = Sistema Informativo de la Arquidiócesis de México | language = es | access-date = 9 December 2017 | url = http://www.siame.mx/card-aguiar-retes-trabajo-con-compromiso-social-en-tlalnepantla/ | title = Card. Aguiar Retes, trabajo con compromiso social en Tlalnepantla | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171213091833/http://www.siame.mx/card-aguiar-retes-trabajo-con-compromiso-social-en-tlalnepantla/ | archive-date = 13 December 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Firma Eruviel Ávila pacto con asociaciones religiosas para el fortalecimiento de valores y reconstrucción del tejido social|language=es|url=http://www.cronica.com.mx/notas/2014/873161.html|access-date=12 December 2017|work=Crónica|date=12 December 2014|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213091555/http://www.cronica.com.mx/notas/2014/873161.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 18 September 2012, Pope Benedict named Aguiar to participate in the October 2012 Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2012/09/18/0522/01169.html |language=it | title=Rinunce e Nomine, 2018.09.12 |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] | access-date=8 December 2017}}</ref> He served as moderator of one of the Spanish language groups.<ref>{{cite news|title=Full Text of Interventions at Synod of Bishops|url=https://zenit.org/articles/full-text-of-interventions-at-synod-of-bishops-2/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=11 October 2012}}</ref> Addressing the Synod he said that "the institutional organization of the Church is necessary, it is not sufficient. To achieve New Evangelization and to transmit the faith to the new generations, the Church must be considered with complete honesty, through a self-examination on the way of living the faith. The proposal of a new style of life applies not only to the Pastors, but to all Christians living in America."<ref>{{cite news|title=Report on the Continents Delivered at Synod of Bishops|url=https://zenit.org/articles/report-on-the-continents-delivered-at-synod-of-bishops/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=9 October 2012}}</ref> Along with his Latin American colleagues, he stressed that "Religiosity remains alive and is the great potential reserve of our peoples", that "deep popular piety rooted in all the countries" of the region. He said that "We cannot forget the simple prayer of the masses who, at shrines and in folk festivals, express their own devotion and unfortunately feel unwelcomed and unaccompanied" and said that the Church needs to develop this piety as pastors and encourage it to develop "a commitment to social transformation which contributes to the well-being of the most needy".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=An Asian plea for humility at the Synod of Bishops|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/asian-plea-humility-synod-bishops|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=12 October 2012}}</ref> He called for a renewed emphasis on communities of faith rather than institutional structures.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=On day two of synod, reminders of a steep climb|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/day-two-synod-reminders-steep-climb|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=9 October 2012}}</ref> He had mentioned similar themes in anticipation of Benedict's visit to Mexico earlier in the year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Agren|first1=David|title=Waiting for the pope: Vatican flags, human wall – and hope for peace|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/waiting-pope-vatican-flags-human-wall-and-hope-peace|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|agency=Catholic News Service|date=23 March 2012}}</ref>
In Tlalnepantla, Aguiar developed a program that had lay Catholics invite neighbors to join in parish activities. In promoting the Church's position on government policies, he asked the laity to lead the effort, for example in opposing a plan to establish a right to [[same-sex marriage]] in the constitution.<ref name=ally>{{cite news | access-date = 9 December 2017 | title = Pope names longtime ally to lead Mexico City Archdiocese |date=7 December 2017 | url = https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/pope-names-longtime-ally-lead-mexico-city-archdiocese | agency = Catholic News Service |work=National Catholic Reporter | first=David | last=Agren}}</ref> He emphasized a variety of social service ministries including local psychological counseling centers, services for single mothers, and religious instruction for prisoners and their families. The diocese promoted a youth festival that featured sports like biker acrobatics, a graffiti contest, a car tuning demonstration, and popular music concerts from boombox to classic rock. In religious education he stressed experience and assimilating Catholic doctrine into daily life over memorization and recitation.<ref name=siametrabajo/>
In April 2013, as President of [[CELAM]] along with its other officers he met with Pope Francis shortly after his election. He reported they discussed the ongoing implementation of Aparecida and he said that "Pope Francis is the one — if not the one who most – certainly expresses in his attitudes and words the theological-pastoral development of Aparecida".<ref>{{cite news|title=Archbishop Carlos Aquiar Retes: 'Meeting with Francis Filled Us With Great Joy'|url=https://zenit.org/articles/archbishop-carlos-aquiar-retes-meeting-with-francis-filled-us-with-great-joy/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=30 April 2013}}</ref>
He was again a Synod Father appointed by Pope Francis in 2014<ref>{{cite news|title=Synod14: Officials Give Initial Impressions|url=https://zenit.org/articles/synod14-officials-give-initial-impressions/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=6 October 2014}}</ref> and 2015 sessions of the [[Fourteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops|Synod on the Family]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Synod Turns to More Tough Issues|url=https://zenit.org/articles/synod-turns-to-more-tough-issues/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=15 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Vatican Releases Full List of Synod Participants |url=https://zenit.org/articles/vatican-releases-full-list-of-synod-participants/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=15 September 2015}}</ref> At the end of the 2014 session, he participated in drafting the ''relatio'' that summarized the bishops' discussions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McElwee|first1=Joshua J.|title=Synod releases document with new tone, calling for mercy, listening|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/synod-releases-document-new-tone-calling-mercy-listening|access-date=9 December 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=13 October 2014}}</ref>
Aguiar is the Grand Prior of the Mexico Lieutenancy of the [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic)|Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/oessh/luogotenenze_en.html|title=The Lieutenancies of the World Lieutenants and Grand Priors|access-date=2025-06-01}}</ref>
===Cardinal=== On 9 October 2016, [[Pope Francis]] announced that he was one of the 17 new cardinals to be [[Cardinals created by Francis#19 November 2016|created on 19 November 2016]].<ref>{{cite press release |language=it | date= 9 October 2016 | access-date = 8 December 2017 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2016/10/09/0723/01609.html |title=Annuncio di Concistoro il 19 novembre per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali|publisher=Holy See Press Office }}</ref> He was made Cardinal Priest of [[Santi Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli]].<ref name=holysee/> He was the sixth Mexican to become a cardinal<ref>{{cite news|title=Carlos Aguiar Retes, el sexto cardenal mexicano|url=http://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/2016/11/19/1129183 |language=es |access-date=24 October 2017| work=Excelsior|date=19 November 2016}}</ref> and the first archbishop of Tlalnepantla to receive the title. Pope Francis, a longtime friend, named him a cardinal while not doing the same for the archbishop of Monterey, traditionally a cardinal's see.<ref name=primate>{{cite news | url = https://www.lastampa.it/vatican-insider/en/2017/12/07/news/cardinal-carlos-aguiar-retes-is-mexico-s-new-primate-1.34080418 | work = La Stampa | access-date = 14 September 2021 | title = Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes is Mexico's new primate | date = 7 December 2017 | first = Andrés | last = Beltramo Álvarez }}</ref>
He was named a member of the [[Pontifical Commission for Latin America]] in January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cardinal O'Malley Is Appointed Member of Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith|url=https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-omalley-is-appointed-member-of-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith/|access-date=9 December 2017|work=Zenit|date=19 January 2017}}</ref>
On 7 December 2017, Pope Francis named him Archbishop of Mexico to succeed [[Norberto Rivera Carrera]] who spent 22 years in the post.<ref>{{cite news | date= 7 December 2017 | work = La Stampa |access-date = 9 December 2017 | url = http://www.lastampa.it/2017/12/07/vaticaninsider/eng/news/cardinal-carlos-aguiar-retes-is-mexicos-new-primate-8AWU6sqqmJ4Bv3aCQvEkgK/pagina.html |first= Andrés | last= Beltramo Álvarez | title = Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes is Mexico's new primate}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | work= Eje Central | url = http://www.ejecentral.com.mx/aguiar-hallara-una-arquidiocesis-primada-en-ruinas/ | access-date = 9 December 2017 |date = 8 December 2017 |language=es | first= Juan Carlos | last= Rodríguez | title = Aguiar hallará una Arquidiócesis Primada en ruinas }}</ref> His installation was held on 5 February 2018.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/carlos-aguiar-retes-arzobispo/ | title= Carlos Aguiar Retes toma posesión como arzobispo primado de México| work = CBS News | access-date = 1 August 2021 | date= 5 February 2018 }}</ref> ''The Tablet'' said the appointment was not a surprise because Aguiar is "a towering ecclesial figure in Central and Latin America".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lamb|first1=Christopher|title=Pope Names New Archbishops of Paris and Mexico City|url=http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/8220/0/pope-names-new-archbishops-of-paris-and-mexico-city|access-date=9 December 2017|work=The Tablet|date=7 December 2017}}</ref>
In December 2020, Aguiar supported the establishment of civil unions for same-sex couples. He said that "everyone has the right to family". He called on parents to remain close to their children who declare themselves gay or lesbian, adding "If they decide as a matter of free choice to be with another person, to be in a union, that's freedom".<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 6 January 2023 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN28M01U/ | title = Mexico's senior Catholic leader backs civil unions for gay couples |publisher = Reuters | date = 11 December 2020 | first = David |last=Alire Garcia }}</ref>
Aguiar participated as a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Catholic Church in Mexico]] *[[History of the Catholic Church in Mexico]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}
*{{cite web| access-date = 24 October 2017| title= Aguiar Retes Card. Carlos |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_aguiar-retes_c.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904064741/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_aguiar-retes_c.html }} *{{cite press release | publisher = Sistema Informativo de la Arquidiócesis de México | language = es | access-date = 9 December 2017 | url = http://www.siame.mx/card-carlos-aguiar-retes-nuevo-arzobispo-de-mexico/ | title = Card. Carlos Aguiar Retes, nuevo Arzobispo de México | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171210003816/http://www.siame.mx/card-carlos-aguiar-retes-nuevo-arzobispo-de-mexico/ | archive-date = 10 December 2017 | url-status = dead }} *{{cite web|url=http://www.celam.org/aparecida/Ingles.pdf | access-date= 9 December 2017| title=CELAM Aparecida Conference Documents, May 2007}} *[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/baguiar.html Catholic Hierarchy] [[Wikipedia:Verifiability#Reliable sources|{{sup|{{small|[''self-published'']}}}}]]
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Margin Camerino Torreblanca Reyes}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Texcoco|Bishop of Texcoco]]|years=28 May 1997 – 5 February 2009}} {{s-aft|after=Juan Manuel Mancilla Sanchez}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Latin American Episcopal Council|General Secretary of the Latin American Episcopal Council]]|years=2000 – 2003}} {{s-aft|after=Ramón Benito de La Rosa y Carpio}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Latin American Episcopal Council|First Vice-President of the Latin American Episcopal Council]]|years=2003 – 12 December 2007}} {{s-aft|after=[[Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=José Guadalupe Martín Rábago}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Mexican Episcopal Conference|President of the Mexican Episcopal Conference]]|years=2006 – 14 November 2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[José Francisco Robles Ortega]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Ricardo Guízar Diaz}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tlalnepantla|Archbishop of Tlalnepantla]]|years=5 February 2009 – 7 December 2017}} {{s-aft|after=Jose Antonio Fernández Hurtado}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Raymundo Damasceno Assis]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Latin American Episcopal Council|President of the Latin American Episcopal Council]]|years=19 May 2011 – 13 May 2015}} {{s-aft|after=[[Rubén Salazar Gómez]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ján Chryzostom Korec]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Santi Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli|Cardinal-Priest of Santi Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli]]|years=19 November 2016 –}} {{s-inc|rows=2}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Norberto Rivera Carrera]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico|Archbishop of Mexico]]|years=7 December 2017 –}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Christianity |portal3= Mexico}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aguiar Retes, Carlos}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Mexico]] [[Category:Mexican cardinals]] [[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Mexico (city)]] [[Category:People from Tepic]] [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Mexico]] [[Category:Mexican Roman Catholic archbishops]] [[Category:Grand Priors of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre]] [[Category:Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre]]