# Leopoldo Brenes

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Nicaraguan Catholic cardinal

Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano Cardinal, Archbishop of Managua Brenes in 2014 Church Catholic Church Archdiocese Managua See Managua Appointed 1 April 2005 Predecessor Miguel Obando y Bravo Other posts Cardinal-Priest of San Gioacchino ai Prati di Castello President of Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua Previous posts Titular Bishop of Maturba (1988–1991) Auxiliary Bishop of Managua (1988–1991) Bishop of Matagalpa (1991–2005) Orders Ordination 16 August 1974 by Miguel Obando y Bravo Consecration 19 March 1988 by Miguel Obando y Bravo Created cardinal 22 February 2014 by Pope Francis Rank Cardinal-Priest Personal details Born (1949-03-07) 7 March 1949 (age 77) Ticuantepe, Nicaragua Motto Tu me has enviado (You have sent me) Coat of arms

Ordination history of Leopoldo Brenes History Priestly ordination Date 16 August 1974 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Miguel Obando Bravo Co-consecrators Paolo Giglio Arturo Rivera Damas Date 19 March 1988 Cardinalate Elevated by Pope Francis Date 22 February 2014 Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Leopoldo Brenes as principal consecrator Carlos Enrique Herrera Gutiérrez, OFM 24 June 2005 Silvio José Báez Ortega, OCD 30 May 2009 Rolando José Álvares Lagos 2 April 2011

Styles of Leopoldo Jose Brenes Solorzano Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Religious style Cardinal Informal style Cardinal

**Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano** (Spanish pronunciation: [\[le.oˈpol.do xoˈse ˈβɾenes soˈloɾsano\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Spanish); born 7 March 1949) is a [Nicaraguan](/source/Nicaragua) prelate of the [Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church) who has been [Archbishop of Managua](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Managua) since 2005. He was made a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) in 2014. He was an auxiliary bishop in Managua from 1988 to 1991 and [Bishop of Matagalpa](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Matagalpa) from 1991 to 2005.

## Biography

Leopoldo Brenes was born in [Ticuantepe](/source/Ticuantepe) on 7 March 1949 into a poor family, one of four children born to Lilliam Solórzano Aguirre[1] and Leo Leopoldo Brenes Flores. He studied at the Rural School of Ticuantepe, the Cristóbal Rugada School of Masaya, and the Escuela Normal of Managua and then continued his secondary studies at the National Institute of Masaya and at Colegio San José de Calasanz. He then studied philosophy at the National Seminary Nuestra Señora de Fátima of Managua and theology in Mexico at the Superior Institute of Ecclesiastical Studies (ISEE). He earned a bachelor's degree in theology at the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University) and a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University). He was ordained a deacon on 13 January 1974.[2]

## Priesthood

He was ordained a priest in Managua on 16 August 1974[3] by [Miguel Obando Bravo](/source/Miguel_Obando_Bravo). He then served in a number of roles, including priest in the parishes of Tisma, Las Brisas, la Asunción, and St. Pius X in Managua, and vicar for pastoral care and substitute vicar general of the Archdiocese of Managua. He was later a parish priest of Sagrada Familia, María Inmaculada, San Pío X, Espíritu Santo and Santa Rosa and San Agustín in Managua, and vicar for pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Managua and episcopal vicar for vocations and ministries.[2]

## Bishop and archbishop

[Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) named him [titular bishop](/source/Titular_bishop) of [Maturba](/source/Maturba) and appointed him auxiliary bishop of Managua on 13 February 1988.[4] He was consecrated a bishop on 19 March 1988[3] in the cathedral of Managua by Cardinal [Miguel Obando Bravo](/source/Miguel_Obando_Bravo), Archbishop of Managua, assisted by [Paolo Giglio](/source/Paolo_Giglio), apostolic nuncio to Nicaragua, and [Arturo Rivera Damas](/source/Arturo_Rivera_Damas), Archbishop of San Salvador. His episcopal motto is *Tu me has enviado*. He was made Bishop of Matagalpa on 2 November 1991[5] and appointed Archbishop of Managua on 1 April 2005, the day before John Paul II's death.[3] He took possession of the see on 21 May.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] He received the [pallium](/source/Pallium) from [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) on 29 June 2005.[6]

In the [Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua](/source/Episcopal_Conference_of_Nicaragua) he has been president of the Commission for Vocations and Ministries; secretary general of the Episcopal Conference; president of Cáritas Nacional; president of the Commission for Catechesis; and president of the Commission for Social Communications. He has served as a delegate for the Eucharistic Congresses, delegate to the Special Assembly for Latin America of the Synod of Bishops, delegate to the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), president of the CELAM Commission Family-Life-Youth, and president of the Episcopal Secretariat of Central America (SEDAC). He has been vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua and its president, became president in 2006.[2][1] He ended a term as president in 2021, when he was elected to a three-year term as vice-president.[7]

Pope Benedict named him to a five-year term as a member of the [Pontifical Commission for Latin America](/source/Pontifical_Commission_for_Latin_America) on 8 October 2009.[8]

## Cardinal

On 22 February 2014, [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) made him a cardinal, assigning him the titular church of [San Gioacchino ai Prati di Castello](/source/San_Gioacchino_ai_Prati_di_Castello).[9][10] He was the second Nicaraguan and the third Central American to become a cardinal.[1] On 15 January 2014 Pope Francis confirmed his membership in the Pontifical Commission for Latin America[11] and on 22 May 2014 made him a member of the [Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Justice_and_Peace).[12]

He participated as a [cardinal elector](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_the_2025_papal_conclave) in the [2025 papal conclave](/source/2025_papal_conclave) that elected [Pope Leo XIV](/source/Pope_Leo_XIV).[13]

## See also

- [Cardinals created by Francis](/source/Cardinals_created_by_Francis)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-info_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-info_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-info_1-2) ["Quién es Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano?"](https://infovaticana.com/tag/leopoldo-jose-brenes-solorzano/) (in Spanish). Info Vaticana. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-confbio_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-confbio_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-confbio_2-2) ["Mons. Leopoldo José Brenes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211126213935/https://cen-nicaragua.org/mons-leopoldo-jose-brenes-solorzano/). *Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua* (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pr20050401_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pr20050401_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-pr20050401_3-2) ["Rinunce e Nomine, 01.04.2005"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2005/04/01/0176/00375.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-80-1988-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LXXX. 1988. p. 231. Retrieved 20 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-83-1991-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LXXXIII. 1991. p. 1090. Retrieved 20 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["UDIENZA AGLI ARCIVESCOVI METROPOLITI CHE HANNO RICEVUTO IL SACRO PALLIO, 30.06.2005"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2005/06/30/0352/00831.html) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** López Marina, Diego (19 November 2021). ["Eligen al nuevo presidente del Episcopado de Nicaragua"](https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/90998/eligen-al-nuevo-presidente-del-episcopado-de-nicaragua) (in Spanish). ACI Prensa. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 08.10.2009"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2009/10/08/0620/01457.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Galeazzi, Giacomo (22 February 2014). ["19 new cardinals created in Consistory in the presence of two Popes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161221092344/http://www.lastampa.it/2014/02/22/vaticaninsider/eng/the-vatican/new-cardinals-created-in-consistory-in-the-presence-of-two-popes-ZBGZyuyP3ptQ2EN93JKiTO/pagina.html). *Vatican Insider*. Archived from [the original](http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/concistoro-2014-32260/) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico per la Creazione dei Nuovi Cardinali: Assegnazione dei Titoli o delle Diaconie ai Nuovi Porporati, 22.02.2014"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/02/22/0130/00280.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 15.01.2014"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/01/15/0031/00060.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Rinunce e Nomine, 22.05.2014"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/05/22/0365/00822.html) (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Cardinal Electors"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html). Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 6 May 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html) from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leopoldo_Jos%C3%A9_Brenes_Sol%C3%B3rzano)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Leopoldo_Jos%C3%A9_Brenes_Sol%C3%B3rzano).

- ["Brenes Solórzano Card. Leopoldo José"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_brenes-solorzano_lj.html). [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070645/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_brenes-solorzano_lj.html) from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.

- [Leopoldo Brenes Solorzano](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbrenes.html)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Carlos Jose Santi Brugia, OFM Bishop of Matagalpa 2 November 1991 – 1 April 2005 Succeeded by Jorge Solorzano Perez Preceded by Miguel Obando Bravo Archbishop of Managua 1 April 2005–present Incumbent Preceded by Rene Socrates Sandigo President of Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua 2014–present Preceded by Michele Giordano Cardinal Priest of San Gioacchino ai Prati di Castello 22 February 2014–present

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leopoldo Brenes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopoldo_Brenes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopoldo_Brenes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.