Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez was born in Barranca, La Vega, on 31 October 1936 and ordained a priest on 18 March 1961. Appointed Bishop of San Francisco de Macorís in January 1978 (consecrated 25 February by Cardinal Beras Rojas), he was named Archbishop of Santo Domingo on 15 November 1981 — the see erected first in the Americas, whose archbishop bears the style “Primate of the Indies.” He led the Dominican bishops' conference for long stretches (1984–2002, 2009–14) and presided over CELAM, the Latin American bishops' council, from 1991 to 1995, showcasing the 1992 Santo Domingo meeting of the continent's bishops.
John Paul II created him a cardinal on 28 June 1991, with the title of San Pio X alla Balduina. In July 2013 he personally reported to Pope Francis the alleged abuse by papal nuncio Józef Wesołowski, leading to the nuncio's recall — one of the defining acts of his last years. His closing years were also marked by a public feud with the US ambassador (see Controversies). Francis accepted his resignation on 4 July 2016. His motto is Fortes in fide — “strong in faith.”
Major Works & Initiatives
Archbishop of Santo Domingo
Thirty-five years in the Americas' first see.
President of CELAM
Headed the Latin American bishops' council.
The Wesołowski report
Personally alerted Francis to the nuncio's alleged abuse.
Controversies
The feud with Ambassador Brewster (2013–2015)
López Rodríguez repeatedly attacked US Ambassador Wally Brewster, an openly gay diplomat: in 2014 he said “diplomacy is not for that sort of thing, an absolutely negative propaganda,” and in December 2015 (AP) that Brewster should “go back to his embassy” and “focus on housework, since he's the wife to a man.” The US State Department rebuked the comments, and Senator Dick Durbin publicly asked Pope Francis to ask the cardinal to treat Brewster with respect.