Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y García-Menocal

Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y García Menocal (* July 16, 1936 in Havana, Cuba, † January 3, 2014 ) was a Cuban priest, Roman Catholic theologian and writer. He was considered one of the most influential people of Cuba.

Family

Carlos Manuel de Céspedes García- Menocal was great-great- grandson of the same freedom fighter in the 1st War of Independence and the founder of the Cuban nation, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Manuel Hilario de Céspedes y García Menocal, Bishop of Matanzas, was his brother.

Life

He studied law and philosophy at the University of Havana. From 1959 to 1963 he completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. On December 23, 1961, he received by Cardinal Antonio Samore ordained a priest in Rome. Prior to his return to Cuba in 1963, he attended training courses in Paris, lions, Arolsen and Vienna.

Until 1966 he was prefect of the seminary El Buen Pastor. In 1970 he became rector of the Seminary of San Carlos y San Ambrosio. Since 1963 he was Professor of Sacred Scripture.

He was also from 1970 to 1991 Head of the General Secretariat of the Cuban Bishops Conference. From 1991 to 1995 he was chancellor of the archdiocese. He was a member and consultant to various departments of the Latin American Bishops' Conferences CELAM. He was from 1984 to 2009 Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Culture. He was Vicar General and Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Havana.

He became known as a writer with his essays. He was since 2005 a member of the Cuban Academy of Language ( Academia Cubana de la Lengua ), is one of three Catholic members beside Manuel Cardinal Arteaga and Evelio Díaz- Cia since the founding of the Academy, 1926. He was Associate Editor of the Archdiocese of Havana " Palabra Nueva ".

Awards

  • Appointment as chaplain of His Holiness ( Monsignor ) by Pope Paul VI. (1976)
  • Premio de la Latinidad (Cuba)
  • Premio de la utilidad de la Virtud (Cuba)
  • Orden de Isabel la Católica (Spain 2008)

Writings

  • Orientaciones actuales de la teología católica, La Habana 1995
  • Recuento, Miami 1992
  • Canciones del atardecer, Miami 1992
  • Série humana y realidad cubana perspectivas, Caracas 1996
  • Una vez en la habana Érase, Madrid 1998
  • Fiesta innombrable, Holguín 1999
  • Pasión por Cuba y por la Iglesia, Madrid 1999 ( biography of Félix Varela )
  • Zarpazos a la memoria, Madrid 2001
Roman Catholic Diocese of Matanzas Religious text Latin American Episcopal Conference
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