Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga...

WCPO
March 11, 2015

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Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga: Pope Francis' closest friend, top advisor speaks in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI – If the Dos Equis man is the "most interesting man in the world," Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga might be No. 2.

The man they call the  "Vice-Pope" - because he's a close friend and top advisor to Pope Francis - plays the sax, flies helicopters and has armed guards 24-7 to protect him against drug cartels he opposes in his homeland of Honduras.

“He is a very fascinating person,” said Rev. Benedict O’Cinnsealaigh, president and rector of the Athenaeum and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, who arranged the Cardinal’s visit here this week.

Cardinal Rodriquez will address “The Vision of Pope Francis for the Church" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night at the Athenaeum, 6616 Beechmont Ave., in Mount Washington. The event is free and open to the public as part of the LeBlond Lecture series. You can watch online at www.athenaeum.edu.

Chairman of the newly established Council of Cardinals, Cardinal Rodriquez will also speak at a news conference at 1:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum.

How interesting is Cardinal Rodriquez?

He made an unusual request for his visit to Cincinnati, Father O’Cinnsealaigh said.

“He wants to visit the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton because he loves airplanes and is, in fact, a certified helicopter pilot,” said Father O’Cinnsealaigh.

And he plays a mean sax. Watch this video showing the Cardinal preparing a sax duet in 10 minutes. 

Father O’Cinnsealaigh has visited the Cardinal at his home in Honduras. Armed bodyguards are stationed there around the clock, he said.

“He has had death threats because he has spoken out against corruption and drug cartels. He always rides in a car with bodyguards. You would never know from his disposition that he felt threatened,” Father O’Cinnsealaigh said.

The Cardinal is president of Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican social justice ministry helping poor around the world.

In 2005, he was considered to be one of the leading candidates to be elected pope.