Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo was born in Caracas on 10 October 1944. He studied philosophy at the interdiocesan seminary and took a licentiate in theology and a doctorate in pastoral theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca. Ordained on 30 July 1967, he taught at seminaries and schools while ministering in parishes. In 1983 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Mérida, and in 1991 Metropolitan Archbishop of Mérida, a post he held for thirty-two years.
He was president of the Venezuelan bishops' conference (1999–2006) and first vice-president of CELAM (2007–2011). Pope Francis created him a cardinal on 19 November 2016, with the title of Santi Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio. In 2018 Francis made him apostolic administrator of Caracas, and in January 2023 Archbishop of Caracas, succeeding the late Cardinal Urosa; he resigned in June 2024. In August 2024, with Cardinal Padrón, he publicly warned that the Maduro government might be “fabricating” election tally sheets, calling the official result “the obvious fraud.” He served as one of the three president-delegates of the 2019 Amazon Synod.
Consequential Quotes
I remind you that it is not a personal award, it is to let everyone see the need to work for the understanding among all Venezuelans, overcoming all kinds of violence is the only way that will allow us a future of peace and harmony.
Major Works & Initiatives
Archbishop of Mérida
Thirty-two years in Venezuela's Andean see.
Archbishop of Caracas
First as administrator, then metropolitan, in the crisis years.
President of the Venezuelan bishops
Led the Church's public voice through the Chávez ascent.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.