Who is José Tolentino de Mendonça, the Portuguese poet and cardinal widely favored to become the new Pope?

One of the most prominent figures in the contemporary Catholic Church is Portuguese cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça. A poet, theologian, and scholar, his profile combines deep academic training, cultural sensitivity, and a pastoral outlook that embraces dialogue with the modern world. His name is being strongly mentioned among the potential successors to Pope Francis.

Tolentino de Mendonça’s background

Born on December 15, 1965, in Machico (Madeira), he spent part of his childhood in Angola, where his father worked as a fisherman. At the age of nine, he returned to Portugal following the independence of the African colonies. He entered seminary at 11 and was ordained a priest in 1990.

He earned a degree in Theology from the Catholic University of Portugal and completed a doctorate in Biblical Theology in 2004. He also pursued advanced studies in Biblical Sciences at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

Tolentino has had a distinguished academic career at the Catholic University of Portugal, where he served as professor, vice-rector, and dean of the Faculty of Theology. He has also taught in Brazil and the United States. In pastoral roles, he has worked as a university chaplain and was rector of the Capela do Rato in Lisbon.

A poet as well as a cardinal

Recognized as one of the leading voices in contemporary Portuguese and European poetry, Tolentino has published numerous books of poetry, essays, and spiritual reflections. His writing is marked by an inclusive, universal approach, seeking to bridge spirituality with literature and contemporary culture. He has received multiple literary honors, including the Pessoa Prize in 2023.

Pope Francis’s trust

In 2018, he was appointed archivist and librarian of the Holy See. A year later, Pope Francis made him a cardinal. In 2022, he took over as prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the body that oversees the Catholic Church’s network of educational institutions and fosters dialogue between the Church and broader culture.

A papal profile

Tolentino de Mendonça is seen as a “consensus cardinal” thanks to his ability to build bridges between different currents within the Church. His pastoral sensibility, cultural engagement, and openness to the world make him a strong candidate should a conclave be called.

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