{{family name hatnote|Chomali|Garib|lang=Chilean}} {{short description|Chilean Catholic prelate (born 1957)}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Fernando Chomali | honorific_suffix = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]]<br/>[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile|Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago de Chile]] | image = Fernando Chomali-Cambio mando Rector UC Chile 2025 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Chomali in 2025 | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile|Santiago de Chile]] | province = Santiago de Chile | metropolis = Santiago de Chile | diocese = | see = | appointed = 25 October 2023 | elected = | term = | enthroned = 16 December 2023 | began = | term_start = | quashed = | ended = | term_end = | predecessor = [[Celestino Aós Braco]] | successor = | opposed = | other_post = Cardinal-Priest of [[San Mauro Abate]] (2024–)<br />[[Chancellor]] of the [[Pontifical Catholic University of Chile]] | ordination = 6 April 1991 | ordained_by = [[Carlos Oviedo Cavada]] | consecration = 3 June 2006 | consecrated_by = [[Aldo Cavalli]], [[Ricardo Ezzati|Ricardo Ezzati Andrell]], and Cristián Contreras Villarroel | cardinal = 7 December 2024 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] | birth_name = Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|03|10|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Santiago]], Chile | baptised = | baptized = | religion = [[Catholic Church]] | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = Archbishop, Prelate | previous_post = Auxiliary bishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile|Santiago de Chile]] (2006–2011)<br>Metropolitan Archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Concepción|Concepción]] (2011–2023) | alma_mater = [[Pontifical Catholic University of Chile]]<br>[[Pontifical Gregorian University]]<br>[[ John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences]] | signature = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib.svg | motto = Mihi Vivere Christus Est | resting_place_coordinates = | education = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms_alt = }} '''Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib''' (born 10 March 1957) is a [[Catholic Church in Chile|Chilean Catholic]] prelate who has served as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile|Archbishop of Santiago de Chile]] since 2023. He was previously Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago de Chile from 2006 to 2011 and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Concepción|Archbishop of Concepción]] from 2011 to 2023. He was made a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 2024.
==Biography== Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib was born on 10 March 1957 in Santiago de Chile, one of five children born to Juan Chomali Celse and Vitalia Garib Aguad;<ref name=conbio/> he has described himself as "a descendant of a [[Palestinians|Palestinian]]".<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 26 October 2023 | language = es | url = https://www.iglesia.cl/detalle_noticia.php?id=19400 | date = 25 November 2012 | title = Monseñor Fernando Chomalí pidió promover la paz en Medio Oriente | website = Conferencia Episcopal de Chile }}</ref> He studied at the [[Lycée Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry de Santiago|Colegio de Alianza Francesa]] and the National Institute of Santiago.<ref name=conbio>{{cite web | language = es | website = Conferencia Episcopal de Chile | access-date = 26 October 2023 | date = 25 October 2023 | url = https://iglesiadeconcepcion.cl/noticias/monsenor-fernando-chomali-ha-sido-nombrado-arzobispo-de-santiago/ | title = Monseñor Fernando Chomalí ha sido nombrado Arzobispo de Santiago | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231025190125/https://iglesiadeconcepcion.cl/noticias/monsenor-fernando-chomali-ha-sido-nombrado-arzobispo-de-santiago/ | archive-date= 25 October 2023 | url-status = live}}</ref> He earned a degree in civil engineering at the [[Pontifical Catholic University of Chile]] in 1981<ref name=conbio/> and then studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Major Seminary of Santiago beginning in 1984.<ref name=conbio/> He was ordained a priest on 6 April 1991 by archbishop [[Carlos Oviedo Cavada]].<ref name=pr2006/>
In Rome, he earned a licentiate in moral theology from the [[Pontifical Alphonsian Academy]] in 1993, a doctorate in theology from the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] in 1994, and a master's degree in bioethics from the [[John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences]] in 1998.<ref name=conbio/> He has worked as a parish vicar, episcopal delegate for university pastoral care, professor of moral theology and bioethics in the Faculties of Theology and Medicine of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and in the Major Seminary of Santiago; as parish priest of Santa María de la Misericordia, moderator of the Curia and president delegate of the Economic Council of the archdiocese.<ref name=vatbio/>
He has been a member of the [[Pontifical Academy for Life]] since 2001.<ref name=pr2011/> From 2010 to 2012 he was a member of its steering committee.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 26 October 2023 | url = https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/papa-francisco-fernando-chomali-nuevo-arzobispo-santiago_20231025/ | language = es | date = 25 October 2023 | title = Papa Francisco nombra a Fernando Chomalí Garib como nuevo arzobispo de Santiago: ¿Quién es? | work = CNN Chile }}</ref> His membership was most recently renewed in 2017.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 26 October 2023 | language = es | url = https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/65191/el-papa-francisco-nombra-45-miembros-para-la-pontificia-academia-para-la-vida | publisher = ACI Prensa | date = 13 June 2017 | title = El Papa Francisco nombra 45 miembros para la Pontificia Academia para la Vida}}</ref>
On 6 April 2006, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] appointed him titular bishop of [[Diocese of Noba|Noba]] and auxiliary bishop of Santiago de Chile.<ref name=pr2006>{{cite press release | access-date = 26 October 2023 | date = 6 April 2006 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2006/04/06/0172/00509.html | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 06.04.2006 |publisher = Holy See Press Office | language = it }}</ref> He received his episcopal consecration on 3 June<ref name=pr2011/> from [[Aldo Cavalli]], the apostolic nuncio to Chile.
===Archbishop of Concepción=== On 20 April 2011, Pope Benedict promoted him as archbishop of Concepción.<ref name=pr2011>{{cite press release | access-date = 26 October 2023 | date = 20 April 2011 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2011/04/20/0229/00582.html | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 20.04.2011 |publisher = Holy See Press Office | language = it}}</ref>
He served from March 2014<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 26 October 2023 | date = 7 March 2014 | url = https://www.iglesia.cl/detalle_noticia.php?id=23558 | language = es | title = Mons. Fernando Chomalí será administrador apostólico de Osorno | website = Conferencia Episcopal de Chile }}</ref> to March 2015 as apostolic administrator of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Osorno|Diocese of Osorno]]. In the final days of that assignment, he met with [[Pope Francis]] and tried without success to impress upon him the impact his appointment of [[Juan Barros Madrid|Juan Barros]] as Osorno's new bishop was having.<ref>{{cite news | work = New York Times | access-date = 26 October 2023 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/world/americas/angry-protest-over-bishop-juan-barros-in-chile.html | title = Angry Protest Over New Bishop in Chile | date = 21 March 2015 | first = Pascale | last = Bonnefoy }}</ref> Chomali had long been friends with Juan Carlos Cruz, who was charging Barros with failure to protect him from sexual abuse.<ref>{{cite news | publisher = Huffington Post | access-date = 26 October 2023 | url = https://www.huffpost.com/entry/backlash-against-chilean_b_6955290/amp | date = 27 March 2015 | title = Backlash Against Chilean Bishop Threatens Francis' Reform Agenda | agency = The GroundTruth Project}}</ref>
On 10 September 2018, in a pastoral letter on the sexual abuse crisis, he called for the Church to cooperate fully with civil authorities: "We must obey the law because we are not above the norms that govern the country." He regretted that Church had lost its reputation as "a voice for the voiceless" and had become "for a growing percentage of the population ... a cause of scandal, of profound questioning, of much distrust and little credibility". He decried the impact of clericalism and proposed separating the offices that handle complaints of abuse from other diocesan offices and new rules to create transparency for seminaries and church judicial proceedings.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 26 October 2023 | work = National Catholic Reporter | url = https://www.ncronline.org/news/when-it-comes-abuse-church-isnt-above-law-chilean-archbishop-says | title = When it comes to abuse, church isn't above the law, Chilean archbishop says | date = 19 September 2018 | first = Junno | last = Orocho Esteves}}</ref>
He became vice president of the [[Episcopal Conference of Chile]] on 28 July 2021.<ref name=conbio/> On 19 December 2021, following the election of [[Gabriel Boric]] as the [[president of Chile]], he hoped that the new president would value "the family as the place where people learn to grow", and that he would act decisively in favour of the most vulnerable and weak in society. He also encouraged the president-elect to promote employment, "because it is a privileged path to overcome the poverty that afflicts many Chileans."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vargas |first1=Giselle |title=Archbishop Asks President-Elect Boric to Recognize Chile's 'Religious Soul' |url=https://www.ncregister.com/cna/archbishop-asks-president-elect-boric-to-recognize-chiles-religious-soul |website=National Catholic Register |date=22 December 2021 |access-date=2021-12-22}}</ref>
===Archbishop of Santiago=== On 25 October 2023, Pope Francis named him Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago.<ref name=vatbio>{{cite press release | access-date = 26 October 2023 | date = 25 October 2023 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/10/25/321025d.html | title = Resignations and Appointments, 25.10.2023 |publisher = Holy See Press Office }}</ref> He was installed there on 16 December.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 17 December 2023| language = es | url = https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/monsenor-fernando-chomali-asume-como-nuevo-arzobispo-de-santiago/Z3QYNI6QBFAAVH6JIFOTDRINLQ/?outputType=amp | date = 16 December 2023 | title = Monseñor Fernando Chomalí asume como nuevo arzobispo de Santiago |first = Ariadna |last= Rodríguez | newspaper = La Tercera}}</ref>
As archbishop, in December 2024, he re-authorised the celebration of the [[Tridentine Mass]] in the archdiocese, after four years of having been prohibited by his predecessor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cardinal Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib |url=https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/cardinal-fernando-natalio-chomali-garib/ |publisher=College of Cardinals Report}}</ref>
===Cardinalate=== On 6 October 2024, Pope Francis announced that he planned to make Chomali a cardinal on 8 December,<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 6 October 2024 | date = 6 October 2024 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/10/06/0774/01532.html | title = Annuncio di Concistoro l'8 dicembre per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali, 06.10.2024 }}</ref> a date that was later changed to 7 December.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 12 October 2024 | url = https://www.ncregister.com/cna/vatican-shares-pope-francis-schedule-for-december-consistory-to-create-cardinals?amp | first = Hannah | last = Brockhaus | date = 12 October 2024 | title = Vatican Shares Pope Francis' Schedule for December Consistory to Create Cardinals | work = National Catholic Register }}</ref> Shortly after the announcement, he reacted on his [[Twitter|X]] account: "I'm very excited. I hope to be a contribution to the Chilean Church.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Manríquez Herrera |first1=Alejandro |title=Mons. Chomalí tras ser nombrado cardenal: "Espero ser un aporte para la Iglesia Chilena" |url=https://www.iglesiadesantiago.cl/arzobispado/site/artic/20241006/pags/20241006085710.html |website=Arzbispodo de Santiago |access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref>
On 7 December 2024, Pope Francis made him a cardinal, assigning him as [[Cardinal-Priest]] of [[San Mauro Abate]].<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 8 December 2024 | date = 7 December 2024 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/12/07/0975/01948.html | title = Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali, 07.12.2024 }}</ref>
He 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>
==Coat of arms== {{Gallery|align=center |width=185|height=185 |Coat of Arms of Fernando Chomalí as a Bishop.svg|{{center|As auxiliary bishop}} |Coat of Arms of Fernando Chomalí Garib.svg|{{center|As archbishop}} |Coat of arms of Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib.svg|{{center|As cardinal}} }}
==See also== * [[Catholic Church in Chile]] * [[Cardinals created by Pope Francis]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}
* [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bchga.html Biography on Catholic Hierarchy] {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chomali, Fernando}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:Chilean people of Palestinian descent]] [[Category:Pontifical Catholic University of Chile alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Benedict XVI]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Chile]] [[Category:People from Santiago, Chile]] [[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Santiago de Chile]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:Chilean cardinals]] [[Category:John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences alumni]]