Pope Leo XIV appoints Spanish Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as applied judge of Vatican’s Court of Cassation, effective Oct. 13, 2025, per Holy See Bulletin.
Newsroom (24/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV has appointed Spanish Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, a prominent Salesian and pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as an applied judge of the Vatican City State’s Court of Cassation. The appointment, effective October 13, 2025, was announced in the Holy See Bulletin on October 24, 2025.
The Court of Cassation, the highest judicial body in Vatican City, comprises cardinals and lay judges with extensive legal expertise. It reviews sentences and ensures the proper application of Vatican law. As a “giudice applicato” (associate judge), Cardinal Fernández Artime will provide judicial support on specific cases, reinforcing the court’s structure as deemed necessary by the Pope.
A Distinguished Career in Service
Born on August 21, 1960, in Gozón-Luanco, Asturias, Spain, Cardinal Fernández Artime hails from a fishing family and joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1978. Ordained a priest in 1987, he holds advanced degrees in pastoral theology, philosophy, and pedagogy. His extensive leadership within the Salesian Order includes roles as provincial delegate for youth ministry, school director in Ourense, and Superior of the South Argentina Province in Buenos Aires.
In 2014, Fernández Artime was elected Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, becoming the first Spaniard to lead the order as the tenth successor of Don Bosco. He served in this role until 2024, earning a second six-year term in 2020 due to his effective leadership. Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal in September 2023, assigning him the presbyteral title of Saint Mary Help of Christians in Via Tuscolana. In April 2024, he was consecrated as titular archbishop of Ursona at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
On January 6, 2025, Pope Francis appointed Fernández Artime as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, succeeding Cardinal João Braz de Aviz. His pastoral alignment with Pope Francis, particularly on issues like education, youth welfare, and migration, has marked his tenure.
A Voice for the Vulnerable
Cardinal Fernández Artime has consistently championed the marginalized, with a particular focus on young people. “Accompanying young people through life is in my DNA,” he stated in a 2018 interview, emphasizing education and support for vulnerable populations, including young prisoners. He has criticized anti-migration policies as “inhumane,” advocating for a compassionate approach to immigration and aligning with Pope Francis’ stance on global issues, including the war in Ukraine.
A proponent of synodality, Fernández Artime has supported Pope Francis’ vision of a Church that “walks together.” During his time as Rector Major, he fostered closer ties between the Salesians and the Vatican, notably through a 2017 partnership with the Dicastery for Communication. At his cardinalate homily in 2023, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the Pope, quoting Don Bosco: “Long live the Pope.” He emphasized service to the Church, stating, “Our service as pastors and cardinals is not an honor but a communion with the Pope.”
Judicial Role in the Vatican
Cardinal Fernández Artime’s appointment as an applied judge enhances the Vatican’s judicial framework with his extensive experience in governance and pastoral care. His role will involve case-specific contributions to the Court of Cassation, ensuring the integrity of the Vatican’s legal processes.
The Salesian cardinal’s deep commitment to education, youth, and Church unity, combined with his legal and administrative expertise, positions him as a significant figure in both the Vatican’s judicial and pastoral spheres.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican.va
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