TEXT - Juan Carlos Vasconez
Cardinal Raul Vela Chiriboga, Archbishop Emeritus of Quito, died in Quito on November 15, after a gradual deterioration of his health.
He was born in Riobamba, in the Ecuadorian highlands, on January 1, 1934. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1957. He exercised his priestly ministry in his hometown until he was appointed undersecretary of the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference in 1969. On May 21, 1971, he received the Episcopal consecration and was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Guayaquil. He also worked as General Secretary of the Episcopal Conference until 1975, when he was appointed Bishop of Azogues. He served as General Secretary of the Episcopal Conference until 1975, when he was appointed Bishop of Azogues, a mission he carried out until 1989, when he was named Ordinary Military Bishop.
In March 2003, the Holy Father John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Quito, which entails being Primate of Ecuador. In November 2010, he received from Benedict XVI the cardinal investiture. He was a man of concord, a factor of unity, he always claimed the need of prayer to face and solve problems. In the telegram of condolence of the Holy Father Francis to Archbishop Espinoza, Archbishop of Quito, he recalled the devoted pastor who, for years and with fidelity, gave his life to the service of God and the Church.
