Conclave: Vesco the Cardinal Marathon Runner

Algiers: Cardinal of Algiers Jean-Paul Vesco is emerging as a notable figure in the College of Cardinals, poised to elect Pope Francis’s successor. Vesco, an amateur marathon runner, bridges a storied past between Europe and Africa, regions where Christian communities have faced historical challenges and martyrdom.

According to Ansa News Agency, Pope Francis appointed Vesco as the Archbishop of Algiers in 2021. He was among the 21 prelates to receive the cardinal’s hat during Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s final Consistory on December 8. Born in Lyon, France, in 1962, Vesco pursued a legal career before his ordination as a priest in 2001. His journey in Algeria spans over two decades, beginning at the Dominican convent of Tlemcen in the diocese of Oran, later becoming the vicar general of the diocese in 2005.

In 2010, Vesco was elected as the provincial prior of the Dominicans of France but soon returned to Algeria when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the head of the diocese of Oran two years later. On December 8, 2018, Vesco’s diocese witnessed the beatification of 19 martyrs of Algeria, including Monsignor Pierre Claverie and the monks of Tibhirine, who gained global recognition through the film “Of Gods and Men.”

Vesco, an athlete in his youth, achieved a personal best marathon time of 2:52. He participates in the sporting experience of Athletica Vaticana, often reflecting, “He who runs prays twice.” Vesco’s passion for running reignited in 1989 in New York, where he set his marathon record. He describes running as an introspective journey, saying, “Running is freedom because it transforms any path into wide spaces.”

He further shares that putting on running shoes transcends limitations, echoing Saint Augustine’s sentiment that “singing is praying twice.” For Vesco, running serves as a meditative practice, offering a unique space for reflection and spiritual openness.