Pope Francis appoints Filipino priest to Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences — CBCP

Pope Francis REUTERS/David Cerny

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has appointed a Filipino priest as a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Wednesday.

The Vatican announced the appointment of Filipino Dominican Fr. Albino Barrera on Tuesday.

The US-based priest is a moral theologian and professor of economics and theology at Providence College in Rhode Island.

Barrera studied engineering at the De La Salle University in Manila and earned his doctorate in economics from Yale University in 1988.

He also obtained a degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in 1994.

The 65-year old was later ordained a priest for the Dominican Order in 1993.

During his career, the theologian and economist authored numerous publications in moral theology, economic ethics, development and international trade.

Barerra was also conferred the degree of Master of Sacred Theology for his “outstanding contribution to the theological sciences” by the Dominican Province of St. Joseph in 2013.

Established by Pope John Paul II in 1994, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences aims to study and discuss the progress of the social sciences, primarily economics, sociology, law and political science.