Bishop Juan Ignacio González Errázuriz

Msgr. Juan Ignacio González Errázuriz was born on July 5, 1956, in Santiago, Chile. He was the son of Eduardo González Echenique and Rosa Teresita Errázuriz Eyzaguirre. He was ordained a deacon on January 31, 1993, in Rome, by Msgr. Álvaro del Portillo, Prelate Bishop of Opus Dei. The same Prelate Bishop ordained him a priest on June 13, 1993. Incardinated into the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei—of which he has been a member since 1971—he served as Chaplain General and as a professor of Theology and Canon Law at the University of the Andes in Santiago. He completed his entire primary and secondary education in Santiago between 1961 and 1973 at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones de la Alameda, run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts (French Fathers). In 1974, he entered the Law School of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. He received his Licentiate degree in Legal Sciences in 1979, and a year later, he obtained his license to practice law. During his university studies, he served as a teaching assistant for the History of Law course and as an assistant at the Institute of Political Science within the same university. He pursued his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the *Studium Generale* of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei. He holds a Licentiate and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross; he passed his doctoral thesis with *Summa cum laude* honors. In 1977, he began working as a legal clerk (*procurador*) in the Legal Service of the Carabineros de Chile (Chilean national police). From 1980 to 1990, he served as a lawyer for the Personnel Directorate of the same police institution. Between 1988 and 1990, he was a professor at the Institute of Geography of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Some of his recent publications include: "Church and Armed Forces: A Canonical and Legal Study on Spiritual Care for the Armed Forces in Chile" and "The Military Vicariate of Chile: Historical and Canonical Origins of Its Establishment—From Independence to the Ecclesiastical Conflict of Tacna (1810–1915)." In 1996, he was selected in a national competition held by the Science and Technology Fund (FONDECYT) for his project titled "The Archbishop of Santiago, Juan Ignacio González Eyzaguirre: His Life and Work." His research project was submitted to and approved by FONDECYT in 1998. Since 1995, he has collaborated with a group of historians assembled by Cardinal Carlos Oviedo to write the history of Chile's bishops. Since 1994, he has taught Canon Law as well as Fundamental Theology, Sacramental Theology, and Moral Theology at the Universidad de los Andes. That same year, he became the chaplain for the university's Law and Commercial Engineering faculties; in 1998, he was appointed General Chaplain of the university as well as chaplain of the Alborada University Residence and Cultural Center in Santiago. Also starting in 1998, he has served on the Chilean Episcopal Conference's legal advisory team, dealing with legal and canonical matters. He devotes most of his time to apostolic work with university students, professors, and staff at the Universidad de los Andes. He has served as a spiritual director at the San Pedro Apóstol Seminary in the Diocese of San Bernardo. On October 10, 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of San Bernardo, succeeding Msgr. Orozimbo Fuenzalida Fuenzalida. Since 2011, he has been a member of the Chilean Episcopal Conference's National Council for the Prevention of Abuse and Support for Victims. He is currently a member of the Conference's Permanent Committee for the 2016–2019 term. On March 2, 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator *sede vacante* of Rancagua, in addition to his role as Bishop of San Bernardo. Juan Ignacio González Errázuriz was born on July 5, 1956, in Santiago, Chile. He was the son of Eduardo González Echeñique and Rosa Teresita Errázuriz Eyzaguirre. He was ordained a deacon on January 31, 1993, in Rome, by Blessed Álvaro del Portillo, Prelate Bishop of Opus Dei. The same Prelate Bishop ordained him a priest on June 13, 1993. Incardinated into the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei—of which he has been a member since 1971—he served as General Chaplain and professor of Theology and Canon Law at the University of the Andes in Santiago. He completed his primary and secondary education in Santiago between 1961 and 1973 at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones de la Alameda, run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts (French Fathers). In 1974, he entered the Law School of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. He received his Licentiate degree in Legal Science in 1979 and obtained his law license a year later. He pursued his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the *Studium Generale* of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei. He holds a Licentiate and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross; he passed his doctoral thesis with *Summa cum laude* honors. In 1977, he began working as a legal assistant in the Legal Department of the Carabineros de Chile (Chilean police force). Between 1980 and 1990, he served as a lawyer for the Personnel Directorate of the same police institution. Some of his recent publications include: *Church and Armed Forces: A Canonical and Legal Study on Spiritual Assistance to the Armed Forces in Chile*; *The Military Vicariate of Chile: Historical and Canonical Genesis of its Establishment—From Independence to the Ecclesiastical Conflict of Tacna (1810–1915)*; and *Archbishop of Santiago Juan Ignacio González Eyzaguirre: His Life and Work*. From 1994, he held the chair of Canon Law and taught courses in Fundamental Theology, Sacramental Theology, and Moral Theology at the University of the Andes. That same year, he was appointed Chaplain of the Law and Commercial Engineering faculties at that university, and in 1998, he became General Chaplain of the University as well as Chaplain of the Alborada University Residence and Cultural Center in Santiago. On October 10, 2003, the Holy Father Saint John Paul II appointed him Bishop of San Bernardo, succeeding Msgr. Orozimbo Fuenzalida Fuenzalida. He was ordained a bishop on November 22, 2003; the principal consecrator was Msgr. Orozimbo Fuenzalida Fuenzalida, with co-consecrators Msgr. Francisco Javier Cardinal Errázuriz, Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago, and Msgr. Carlos González, Bishop Emeritus of Talca. Gules (red), with a castle of gold surmounted by an eight-pointed star, also of gold. A silver border, charged with four lanceolate crosses sable (black) and four roses gules (red). Following the pastoral guidelines of the Holy Father John Paul II for the beginning of the new millennium, Msgr. González Errázuriz has adopted a motto... The field gules and the castle or (gold) correspond to the González family coat of arms. The castle is a symbol of fortitude, a virtue that must accompany every shepherd in proclaiming and defending the faith. The three towers manifest the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, which animate the entire life and apostolic work of the Church. The star symbolizes the Most Holy Mary—Star of the Sea, Morning Star. Her light must guide every step of the Christian, in accordance with the well-known exhortation of Saint Bernard, Patron of the diocese and a great lover of the Virgin: "Look to the star, call upon Mary." Its eight points symbolize the Gospel Beatitudes, which find their perfect fulfillment in Mary and which the Bishop and his clergy must live out and teach to the people of God. The crosses and roses on the border recall to the new bishop the kind and approachable figure of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, whom he knew personally and whose spirit animates—and will continue to guide—his pursuit of holiness. The lanceolate Greek cross appears in many of Saint Josemaría's manuscripts; with this symbol, he expressed his desire to carry the message of Christ's Cross in all directions and into every sphere of human endeavor. The rose symbolizes optimism and good cheer in the face of difficulties. It was precisely through a gilded and painted wooden rose that Saint Josemaría was comforted by the Most Holy Mary during moments of profound interior tribulation. The rose also holds a familial significance, representing gratitude to God for the new bishop's parents, siblings, and close relatives.