Pope Francis has appointed a Filipino Dominican priest as member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
CBCP News said the Vatican announced the appointment of Fr. Albino Barrera on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
Born in Manila, the 65-year old US-based priest was ordained a priest for the Dominican Order in 1993.
He studied engineering at the De La Salle University in Manila and earned his doctorate in economics from Yale University in 1988.
The priest later obtained a degree in sacred theology from Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in 1994.
Barrera has also authored numerous publications in the field of moral theology, economic ethics, development and international trade.
In 2013, the Dominican Province of St. Joseph conferred upon him the degree of Master of Sacred Theology for his “outstanding contribution to the theological sciences”.
Barrera is a moral theologian and professor of economics and theology at Providence College in Rhode Island.
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.