Dominique Mathieu

His Eminence

Dominique Mathieu

O.F.M. Conv.
Cardinal
Archbishop of Tehran–Isfahan
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseTehran–Isfahan
Appointed8 January 2021
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of Santa Giovanna Antida Thouret [it] (2024–)
Previous post(s)Definitor general and general assistant for the Central Europe Federation of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (2019–2021)
Orders
Ordination24 September 1989
Consecration16 February 2021
by Leonardo Sandri
Created cardinal7 December 2024
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Dominique Joseph Mathieu

(1963-06-13) 13 June 1963 (age 61)
Arlon, Luxembourg, Belgium
NationalityBelgium
MottoDeus meus in Te confido (My God I trust in You)
Coat of armsDominique Mathieu's coat of arms
Styles of
Dominique Joseph Mathieu
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeTehran–Isfahan

Dominique Joseph Mathieu, O.F.M. Conv. (born 13 June 1963) is a Belgian Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Tehran–Isfahan since 2021. He is a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He was made a cardinal on 7 December 2024 by Pope Francis.

Biography

Dominique Mathieu was born in Arlon in Belgian Luxembourg, the southernmost province of Belgium, on 13 June 1963. Growing up he lived in Damme,[1] though by his own account he grew up in Bruges, a few miles away, where he studied with the Xaverian Brothers. Inspired by the figure of Maximilian Kolbe, he developed a relationship with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Louvain.[2] He joined that order at 21 and professed his solemn vows on 20 September 1987.[3] He was ordained a deacon on 1 April 1989 [4] and a priest on 24 September 1989.[3]

Within his Franciscan order he has held various positions: vocational promoter, secretary, vicar and provincial minister of the Belgian province of the Friars Minor Conventual, serving as delegate general when the provinces of Belgium and France merged; rector of the national shrine of Saint Anthony of Padua in Brussels and director of its Confraternity. He was also president of two non-profit organizations that support the Friars Minor Conventual in Belgium, and had responsibilities with the Catholic School of Landen. He has served as president of the Central Europe Federation of the Friars Minor Conventual (Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland) and was a member of the Franciscans' International Commission for the Economy.[3]

He moved to Lebanon in 2013 and was incardinated in the Provincial Custody of the East and of the Holy Land. He served that province as custodial secretary, formator, master of novices and rector of postulants and candidates.[3]

From 2019 to 2021 he was definitor general and general assistant for the Central Europe Federation of the Friars Minor Conventual.[3]

Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Tehran–Isfahan on 8 January 2021.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on 16 February 2021 from Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, with Cardinal Mauro Gambetti and Archbishop Ignazio Bedini as co-consecrators, in Rome's Basilica of the Twelve Apostles.[4][5] and left Rome to take possession of his see in November.[6] In March 2021 he told an interviewer that from the time he entered religious life he "almost always felt affinity with the Islamic world".[7]

On 6 October 2024, Pope Francis announced that he planned to make Mathieu a cardinal on 8 December,[8] a date that was later changed to 7 December.[9] He became the third cardinal in the history of modern Iran.[10]

On 7 December 2024, Pope Francis made him a cardinal, assigning him as a member of the order of cardinal priests the title of Santa Giovanna Antida Thouret.[11]

Mathieu has been described as having "a passion for astronomy".[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ De Greef, Jos (11 January 2021). "De Belgische franciscaan Dominique Mathieu uit Aarlen wordt aartsbisschop van Teheran-Isfahan in Iran" (in Dutch). VRT News. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  2. ^ Galloy, Jacques (6 October 2024). "Un Nouveau Cardinal Belge: Le Franciscain Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archevêque d'Iran" (in French). RCF. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Resignations and Appointments, 08.01.2021". Holy See Press Office. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Rome: Friar Dominique J. Mathieu to Be Made New Cardinal". OFMConv. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b Mora Mesén, Víctor Manuel; Stoia, Agnello (19 February 2021). "Episcopal Ordination of Friar Dominique J. Mathieu". OFMConv. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Roma: partenza di Fra Dominique J. Mathieu". OFMConv (in Italian). 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Friar Dominique Mathieu To Be Made Cardinal". Franciscan Voice. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  8. ^ Castellano Lubov, Deborah (6 October 2024). "Pope Francis announces Consistory for creation of new Cardinals". Vatican News. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  9. ^ Brockhaus, Hannah (12 October 2024). "Vatican Shares Pope Francis' Schedule for December Consistory to Create Cardinals". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  10. ^ Tresca, Malo (7 October 2024). "Who are the 21 new cardinals chosen by Pope Francis?". La Croix International. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali, 07.12.2024" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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