Urbano Navarrete Cortés


Urbano Navarrete Cortés, S.J. was a Spanish Roman Catholic Cardinal, professor of Canon Law and former rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was made Cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI, though he was over the age of 80 and thus could not vote in a papal conclave. His appointment followed the precedent set by previous Popes for rewarding priests who have made significant contributions to the life and work of the Church.

Biography

Cardinal Navarrete Cortés was born in Camarena de la Sierra, Teruel; his father was José Navarrete Esteban. He entered the Society of Jesus on 20 June 1937; after his licentiate in philosophy and in theology he obtained a doctorate in canon law. Cardinal Navarrete was ordained to the priesthood on 31 May 1952, during the International Eucharistic Congress. A world-renowned canonist, he then served as Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome until 1980, when he was appointed rector. Cardinal Navarrete was granted an honorary doctorate by the Pontifical University of Salamanca, in his native Spain, in 1994, and was a consultor to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Roman Curia.
On 17 October 2007, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would elevate Navarrete and twenty-two other prelates to the College of Cardinals. The Pope honored Navarrete's request to be dispensed from the requirement of episcopal consecration, and, at the consistory in St. Peter's Basilica on 24 November 2007, Navarrete was created Cardinal Deacon of S. Ponziano. Cardinal Navarrete's coat of arms were designed by American ecclesiastical heraldic artist George N. Cannizzaro.
Cardinal Navarrete Cortés died on 22 November 2010. Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram of condolence to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Father Adolfo Nicolas, S.J., lauding the Cardinal for his distinguished contributions to canon law, theology, and philosophy, as well as the academic formation of clergy and laity while serving as Rector of the Gregorian. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and the former Cardinal Secretary of State, served as the principal celebrant of the funeral Mass, while Pope Benedict delivered the homily and presided at the rites of Final Commendation and Valediction.