Mario Aurelio Poli was born in Buenos Aires on 29 November 1947. He obtained a licence in social services at the University of Buenos Aires and, at the age of 22, entered the metropolitan seminary of Buenos Aires, later earning a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. He was ordained a priest on 25 November 1978. As a priest he served at the parish of San Cayetano, as superior at the major seminary and as director of institutional vocations, and from 1980 he taught ecclesiastical history at the Catholic University's faculty of theology.
On 8 February 2002 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires and titular Bishop of Abidda, receiving episcopal ordination on 20 April 2002. On 24 June 2008 he was appointed Bishop of Santa Rosa. On 28 March 2013 Pope Francis — his own predecessor in the see — appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and on 4 May 2013 Ordinary for the Catholic faithful of the Eastern rite resident in Argentina. He participated in the XIV General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2015, and served as first Vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina.
Pope Francis created him a cardinal in the consistory of 22 February 2014, assigning him the titular church of San Roberto Bellarmino. On 26 May 2023 Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and on 28 November 2023 his resignation as Ordinary for the eastern faithful in Argentina. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Consequential Quotes
It seems to me an exaggerated affirmation. It’s true that from 1992, the year in which he was appointed archbishop of Buenos Aires, and even before when he was auxiliary, vicar general with Cardinal Quarracino, then bishop, cardinal, president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, etc. he had so many responsibilities and he was always very tired. However, he always kept his good humor, the spirituality that characterizes him, and has always been very creative with the Gospel, as he is still, because the Pope is a great reader of Scripture.
For me he is a wise, holy man, a venerable old man who has arrived at his years of maturity taking important steps. He has left us a prolific teaching and an extraordinary theology, especially in his trilogy on Jesus of Nazareth, which after reading it I now advise all seminarians, priests and anyone who has not yet been able to read it to do so.
Make your hearts tender so that the grace the God of life abundantly grants us will drench you, and you will experience his salvation. Make your hearts tender so that you will not be indifferent to the pain or suffering of anyone.
May our mentality that is often so far from the Gospel become the mentality of Christ. May lives closed to God and to neighbor be open with docility to the invigorating mercy of God and to the concrete love of others that transforms reality.
Isn’t this a moment to go towards a ‘Great National Pact’ with a wide and generous view, one which is neither functional nor circumstantial, leaving aside narrow sectarian interests?
On this latest anniversary of his election, we fervently join the entire church in praying for Pope Francis and we wish to renew our fidelity to the one who carries over his shoulders as the good shepherd the universal community of faithful.
Major Works & Initiatives
Professor of ecclesiastical history, Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina
He has taught ecclesiastical history at the faculty of theology of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina since 1980, per the Holy See biography; Wikipedia adds patrology to his teaching subjects.
Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina
Appointed Ordinary on 4 May 2013 for the Catholic faithful of the Eastern rite resident in Argentina who lack a hierarchy of their own church, per the Holy See biography; he held the office until his resignation was accepted on 28 November 2023.
Member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Pontifical Council for the Laity
Wikipedia records his appointment on 19 February 2014 as a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
First Archdiocesan Synod of Buenos Aires
He convened the archdiocese's first synod; Pope Francis's video message of 27 October 2018 for a Synod day noted that Poli had already visited almost all the parishes during the synod time to speak with the parish communities.
Controversies
Vatican audit of archdiocesan asset sales
An audit ordered by the Vatican and carried out by the Congregation for Clergy found irregularities in the sales of Church assets by the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, with properties disposed of controversially, but said no crimes were committed. Reporting the audit in May 2022, Catholic News Service (via Our Sunday Visitor) noted that two archdiocesan commissions for overseeing financial matters were either inoperative or not fully formed at the time of some sales, and that a letter of 28 October from the Congregation's prefect and secretary limited Cardinal Poli to economic transactions that were strictly necessary and asked him, to the extent possible, not to dispose of further archdiocesan or parish assets. The Archdiocese responded in a statement of 3 May that its administration had made all accounting documentation available during the visit, that in no case were crimes or negotiations detected, and that its asset policy served the Church's evangelising and charitable works. A letter signed by more than 250 Buenos Aires priests expressed support for Poli, witnessing to his honesty, moral integrity, humility, simplicity and austerity.
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- ZENIT — Pope's Successor in Buenos Aires Reflects on a 'Church That Comes Close', 24 February 2014
- Catholic News Agency — Cardinal calls on faithful to have tender hearts during Lent, 5 March 2014
- ZENIT (Fides) — Argentina: Te Deum for the Nation, 28 May 2019
- The Boston Pilot (OSV News) — Argentina celebrates 10 years of the first Latin American pontiff, 13 March 2023
- Our Sunday Visitor (CNS) — Vatican audit of Buenos Aires finds irregularities, no crimes, 12 May 2022
- Holy See — Video message of Pope Francis to Cardinal Poli for the first Archdiocesan Synod, 27 October 2018