杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

Uruguayan jurist Guzmán Carriquiry Lecour is certainly one of the best-known faces in the Roman Curia.

He began his service at the Vatican in the early 1970s when Paul VI was 杏MAP导航.

In July, Uruguay designated Carriquiry as the Latin American nation鈥檚 Ambassador to the Holy See.

He presented his credential letters to 杏MAP导航 Francis at an audience on Saturday, marking the official start to his diplomatic mission.

Extensive Vatican career

Born in Montevideo on 20 April 1944, Carriquiry is married with 4 children. 

A trained jurist and the author of several books, he began his career at the Holy See in 1974, when 杏MAP导航 Paul VI called him to join the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Later, in 1977, the 杏MAP导航 appointed him as office manager.

杏MAP导航 John Paul II then counted him among the superiors of that dicastery, appointing him undersecretary.

In 2005, he was confirmed in this role by the 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI. Then, in 2011, the 杏MAP导航 named him Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, which coordinates鈥攖ogether with the Congregation for Bishops and the 杏MAP导航鈥攖he activities of the Holy See in Latin America.

A personal friend of Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio for many years, on 2 May 2014, he received from 杏MAP导航 Francis the task of "Secretary-in-charge of the Vice-Presidency" of the same commission.

He was the first lay person to hold such a high position in a dicastery of the Roman Curia.