Gonzalo Aemilius

Gonzalo Aemilius (born 18 September 1979 in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan Roman Catholic cleric who has served as a personal secretary to Pope Francis since 2020.[1]

Monsignor

Gonzalo Aemilius
Personal Secretary to Pope Francis
DioceseRome
SeeHoly See
Installed26 January 2020
Term endedJuly 2023
PredecessorFabián Pedacchio
SuccessorDaniel Pellizzon
Orders
Ordination6 May 2006
by Nicolás Cotugno
Personal details
Born
Gonzalo Aemilius

(1979-09-18) 18 September 1979
Montevideo, Uruguay
NationalityUruguayan (with Vatican citizenship)
DenominationCatholic Church

Biography

Gonzalo Aemilius was born in Montevideo on 18 September 1979. His parents were not practicing Christians and one of his grandmothers was Jewish.[2] He grew up in a middle-class family and attended a Catholic school in Montevideo.[3] He was member of the Scout Movement in the Grupo Scout Juan de Córdoba. When he came of age he discovered his vocation for a religious career.[3] He was ordained a priest on 6 May 2006.[2]

He was appointed principal of the Liceo Jubilar Juan Pablo II in 2005; his contribution was vital for the development of this Roman Catholic institution devoted to the education of poor children.[4] While he was working there, Pope Francis, then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, learned of his work and telephoned him periodically to discuss it, beginning in 2006.[5] At the end of 2012 he was sent to the parish of Puntas del Manga to take up a new assignment.[4]

He studied in Rome and earned a doctorate in theology.[6]

On 17 March 2013, as Pope Francis was on his way to celebrating Mass at the Vatican's parish church of Sant'Anna, he recognized Aemilius in the crowd and invited him to attend and after the service introduced him and asked for prayers in support of his work.[2] He told L'Osservatore Romano the next day: "He taught me to take the best that is in each individual, however different he or she may be from others, and to put it to good use for the good of all."[6] Aemilius' family had funded his trip to Rome because they knew of his relationship with Pope Francis.[6] After a few days as a public figure, he returned to his work in Uruguay.[6]

On 26 January 2020, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had appointed Aemilius to serve as one of his two private secretaries. He replaced Fabian Pedacchio and joined Yoannis Lahzi Gaid in that role.[2]

References
  1. "Father Aemilius is the Pope's new Personal Secretary - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  2. "Padre Aemilius è il nuovo segretario particolare del Papa" (in Italian). Vatican News. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. "Meet Gonzalo Aemilius, a 21st-century priest" (in Spanish). El Observador. 13 August 2012.
  4. "Our principal Aemilius" (in Spanish). Liceo Jubilar. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. "Aemilius reencounters Pope Francis" (in Spanish). El Observador. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  6. O'Connell, Gerard (26 January 2020). "Pope Francis names new secretary: a priest who worked with street children and drug addicts". America. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
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