Ángel Fernández Artime was born in Gozón-Luanco, Asturias, Spain, on 21 August 1960, the son of a fisherman. He joined the Salesians, making first vows on 3 September 1978 and final vows in 1984, and was ordained a priest on 4 July 1987 in León. He took degrees in pastoral theology, philosophy and pedagogy at Valladolid, taught religion, directed the Salesian school of Ourense, and became provincial of León (2000–2006). As provincial of Southern Argentina (2009–2014) he worked closely with Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
On 25 March 2014 the Salesians elected him Rector Major — the tenth successor of St John Bosco, and the first Spaniard in the office; he was re-elected in 2020 and visited more than 120 countries. In a first for the modern Church, Pope Francis created him a cardinal on 30 September 2023 while he was still a priest and superior general — the first cardinal elector not already a bishop since 2001 — allowing him to finish as Rector Major on 16 August 2024. He was consecrated titular Archbishop of Ursona on 20 April 2024, with the deaconry of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in via Tuscolana. On 6 January 2025 Francis appointed him Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life, alongside its first woman prefect, Sister Simona Brambilla.
Consequential Quotes
Life is always richer and more expansive than the challenges we encounter daily.
They need to feel that we neither want to run their lives nor dictate how they should live but rather that we want to share with them the best that we have, which is our Lord Jesus Christ.
In today's society we are facing much greater violence than even twenty years ago. And this gives reason to think how necessary the Salesian charism is today more than ever.
We consecrated men and women have received this vocation, this call to discipleship that asks us to witness to the primacy of God with our whole lives.
Major Works & Initiatives
Rector Major of the Salesians
Tenth successor of Don Bosco, leading one of the Church's largest orders.
Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life
Co-leads the dicastery for religious with its first woman prefect.
Provincial of Southern Argentina
His Buenos Aires years, working alongside Archbishop Bergoglio.
The ten Strenna messages
The annual New-Year messages he gave the whole Salesian Family as Rector Major, from “Like Don Bosco, with the young, for the young” (2015) to “The dream that makes you dream” (2024).
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.