Saint Paul University to Present Cardinal Pedro Barreto with Honorary Doctorate

OTTAWA (Ontario), Thursday, November 7, 2019 ― On Tuesday, November 12, Saint Paul University (SPU) will award Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno, S.J., with the Doctorate Honoris Causa.

The Doctorate Honoris Causa is the highest honour a university can bestow. It is granted to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the University, to their profession or to society in general. In addition to his service to the Church, Cardinal Barreto is being recognized for his commitment to human rights, the environment and peace.

“We are very proud to welcome Cardinal Barreto and recognize his achievements with this honorary doctorate,” said Chantal Beauvais, Rector of Saint Paul University. “His work in promoting social and environmental justice are exemplary of the values we promote at Saint Paul University.”

Born in Lima, Peru in 1944, Pedro Barreto Jimeno Ricardo was ordained on December 18, 1971 and later made his perpetual profession in the Society of Jesus on October 3, 1976.

Pope John Paul II named Fr. Barreto as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Huancayo in July 2004. In this position, he played an integral role in advocating for the people and ecology of La Oroya, a city polluted by a nearby mining operation.

In June 2018, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Barreto as a Cardinal. Cardinal Barreto continues to defend the interests of the environment and vulnerable populations. Most recently, Cardinal Barreto participated in the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Panama Region where they focused on the theme Amazon: new paths for the Church and for an integral ecology.

Cardinal Barreto to Speak at Conference
Following the ceremony, Cardinal Barreto will be the keynote speaker of a half-day conference hosted by SPU.

With the theme of “The Synod on the Amazon – Canada and Latin America Working Together” the conference will feature a discussion of how the Church in Canada can support the work being done in the Amazon Region.

Panelists will include SPU faculty, Serge Langlois, Executive Director of Development and Peace, and Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos, President of the Latin American Bishop’s Council.