In the framework of the celebration of the 60 years of his priestly ordination, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop Emeritus of Mexico, took part in a simple and discreet gathering at the parish of San Isidro Labrador, in the Reforma Social neighborhood of Mexico City. Marked by priestly fraternity and sobriety, the event was hosted by Father Hugo Valdemar Romero, canon of the metropolitan chapter and pastor of the parish, who served as Director of Social Communication for the Archdiocese of Mexico. The Archbishop Emeritus shared time with a close group of priests and celebrated with a cake bearing the number 60, recalling the six decades of priestly ministry conferred on him by Pope Saint Paul VI on July 3, 1966 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Notable was the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, which added a special sign of communion with the Apostolic See. During the gathering, the diplomat presented the Cardinal with a parchment of blessing sent by Leo XIV on the occasion of this anniversary, a gesture that underscored the recognition of the universal Church for the fidelity of a shepherd who has dedicated his life to the service of the People of God.
Born on June 6, 1942 in La Purísima, Tepehuanes, in the state of Durango, Norberto Rivera Carrera was ordained a priest on July 3, 1966 by the imposition of hands of Pope Paul VI. His episcopal journey began on December 21, 1985, when he received episcopal ordination as Bishop of Tehuacán. On June 13, 1995 he was appointed Primate Archbishop of Mexico, a position he held until December 7, 2017, when Pope Francis accepted his resignation, submitted in accordance with the Code of Canon Law upon reaching the canonical age of 75.
For more than two decades at the helm of the primatial archdiocese, as the thirty-fifth successor of Friar Juan de Zumárraga and custodian of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cardinal Rivera guided the Church through periods of significant social and ecclesial transformations. Although now retired, he continues to actively accompany communities, especially during patronal feasts and by administering the sacrament of Confirmation, maintaining a close and constant pastoral presence that remains appreciated by many of the faithful.
Present at the gathering, in addition to Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Spiteri and Father Hugo Valdemar Romero, were Monsignor Joseph Antony, secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature; Father José Guillermo Gutiérrez Fernández, director of the Center for Family, Bioethics and Society Studies at the Pontifical University of Mexico; the Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral, Canon José Antonio Carballo García; and Father Juan José Cedeño Serratos, pastor of María Auxiliadora in the Gabriel Ramos Millán neighborhood. The fraternal character of the meeting reflected the discreet style of service that has marked Cardinal Rivera’s career, always centered on ministry and pastoral closeness. The blessing of Pope Leo XIV, conveyed through his nuncio, added a profound sense of universal communion to a day that was, at its core, one of thanksgiving.
From this blog we express to the Archbishop Emeritus of Mexico our deepest gratitude for six decades of dedication and service to the Church of Christ. May the Lord, who called him to the priesthood sixty years ago, continue to sustain him with His grace and bless him abundantly in this stage of his ministry, where his presence remains a seed of faith and hope for the communities that welcome him with filial affection. Congratulations.