Pope Francis has elevated the rector of the
Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Victor Manuel Fernández, to
the dignity of Archbishop, appointing him leader of the titular see of
Tiburnia. This is a big boost to Fernández’s current role as head of the Argentinean Catholic University.
Fernández is one of Francis’ most fervent supporters.
The university rector was born in Alcira Gigena (Córdoba) in 1962. He served the diocese of Villa de Concepción de Río Cuarto and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the UCA’s Faculty of Theology.
He then gained a Licence degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a Doctorate from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. He was an educator and teacher at the Río Cuarto seminary, a professor and deputy Dean of the Theology Faculty and a diocesan assistant of the Movimiento de Renovación carismática (charismatic renewal movement). He was also a parish vicar and then a parish priest from 1991 to 2007.
Benedict XVI chose him as one of the participants of the 5th Latin American Bishops’ Conference in Aparecida (Brazil). He attended the conference as an expert representative of the Argentinean Bishops’ Conference and CELAM, making important contributions to the preparation of the conference’s concluding document, under Bergoglio’s guidance.
The future Pope and former Great Chancellor of the Catholic University of Argentina appointed Fernández as rector of the university, despite opposition from some conservative circles.
As rector, Victor Manuel Fernández did a great deal to integrate the university and its initiatives into the city’s social fabric, including the villas miserias, the Buenos Aires slums.
The importance attributed to the university is also a sign for the future of the Argentinean Bishops’ Conference.
This is not the first time a UCA rector has received an Episcopal nomination, though the circumstances following the nomination were slightly different.
In 1970, Paul VI appointed Octavio Nicolás Derisi Lomanto, a Thomist, as Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata, but he continued working in academia for some years afterwards.
As the university’s founder, Lomanto had worked tirelessly to promote it since its establishment in the 50’s.