Mendonza is licensed at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, holds a PhD in Biblical Theology from the Catholic University of Portugal, and has been teaching theology as a professor for 14 years.

Pope Francis has chosen Mendonza as the lead preacher for the Lenten Retreat of the Roman Curia in 2018. Five months later, the Pope appointed him Chief Archivist and Librarian of the Vatican Apostolic Library with the dignity of an archbishop. A year later, in 2019, he was promoted to Cardinal.

Mendonza will serve as the first Secretary of the Vatican’s Department of Culture and Education.

new apostolic constitution preach the gospel It merged the former Papal Cultural Council of the Vatican and the Catholic Ministry of Education to form the new Decastery.

According to the constitution, the Ministry of Culture and Education is divided into two sections, working “within Christian anthropology to develop the human values ​​of people and to contribute to the full realization of Christian discipleship.” I’m here.

The Holy See also coordinates the activities of several Pontifical Academies, such as the Pontifical Academy of Archeology and the Pontifical Academy of Theology.