Breaking: Former Archbishop Robert Sanchez Dies

By Olivier Uyttebrouck
ABQJournal
January 20, 2012

http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/01/20/abqnewsseeker/former-archbishop-robert-sanchez-dies.html

Archbishop Sanchez (Journal File)

Archbishop Robert Fortune Sanchez, who served as the 10th Archbishop of Santa Fe from 1974-1993, died today, the archdiocese announced.

“Archbishop Sanchez was much loved as a native son by the people of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe,” Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan, who succeeded Sanchez in 1993, said in a written statement issued today.

“He was respected by his brother Bishops and looked up to by his priests,” Sheehan said. “We continue to acknowledge the good he did during his Episcopacy, are well aware of his human failings, and mourn his death today.”

Sanchez, 77, grew up in Socorro, where he attended Mount Carmel Catholic School and Socorro High School.

Pope Paul VI appointed Robert as the 10th Archbishop of Santa Fe. He was ordained as Archbishop on July 25, 1974 with over 14,000 people attending the event, making it the highest attended ordination in history to that point in time.