Bernardin Gantin

{{Short description|Beninese Catholic cardinal and Servant of God (1922–2008)}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type = Cardinal

| honorific-prefix = Servant of God

| name = Bernardin Gantin

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Dean of the College of Cardinals

| image = Gantin Portrait.jpg

| caption = Gantin during his early years as a cardinal

| province =

| diocese =

| church = Catholic Church

| see = Palestrina

| enthroned = 5 June 1993

| ended = 30 November 2002

| predecessor = Agnelo Rossi

| successor = Joseph Alois Ratzinger

| ordination = 14 January 1951

| ordained_by = Louis Parisot

| consecration = 3 February 1957

| consecrated_by = Eugène Tisserant

| cardinal = 27 June 1977

| created_cardinal_by = Pope Paul VI

| rank = Cardinal-Bishop

| other_post =

| previous_post = {{unbulleted list | Auxiliary Bishop of Cotonou (1957 – 1960) | Archbishop of Cotonou (1960 – 1971) | President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (1976 – 1984) | Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops (1984 – 1998) | Dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Bishop of Ostia (1993 – 2002) }}

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|5|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Toffo, Benin

| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|5|13|1922|5|8|df=y}}

| death_place = Paris, France

| buried =

| nationality =

| residence =

| parents =

| alma_mater =

| signature =

| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Bernardin Gantin.svg

| motto = {{Lang|la|In tuo sancto servitio}}
(In your holy service)

| module2 =

| term_end =

| feast_day =

| venerated = Catholic Church

| saint_title = Servant of God

| beatified_date =

| beatified_place =

| beatified_by =

| canonized_date =

| canonized_place =

| canonized_by =

| attributes =

| patronage =

}}

{{Infobox cardinal styles

|cardinal name=Bernardin Gantin

|dipstyle=His Eminence

|offstyle=Your Eminence

|relstyle=

|deathstyle= Servant of God

| image = Coat of arms of Bernardin Gantin.svg

|image_size=200px

|See= Palestrina (Suburbicarian)

}}

Bernardin Gantin (8 May 1922 – 13 May 2008) was a Beninese Catholic prelate who held senior positions in the Roman Curia for twenty years and the highest position in the College of Cardinals for nine years. His prominence in the hierarchy of the Church was unprecedented for an African and has been equaled by few non-Italians.

He began his career in his native country first as an auxiliary bishop and then as Archbishop of Cotonou. In 1971, he began his thirty-year career in the Curia. After he had spent several years in the role of senior assistant, he held a series of senior positions as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Bishops.

Pope Paul VI made him a cardinal in 1977, Pope John Paul II promoted him to the rank of cardinal-bishop in 1986, and his peers elected him dean, the highest office in the College of Cardinals, in 1993. He retired and returned to Benin when he turned 80. His cause for canonization was opened after his death and he was declared a Servant of God by Pope Francis.

Early career

Bernadin Gantin was born in Toffo, French Dahomey (now Benin), on 8 May 1922. His name means "tree of iron" (gan, iron and tin, tree ). His father was a railway worker. He entered the minor seminary in Ouidah at age fourteen and was ordained to the priesthood on 14 January 1951 in Lomé, Togo, by Archbishop Louis Parisot of Cotonou. He then fulfilled pastoral assignments while also teaching languages at the seminary. In 1953 he was sent to Rome where he studied at the Pontifical Urban University and then at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he earned his licentiate in theology and canon law.{{cite web | date = 14 May 2008 | website = Agenzia Fides | url = http://www.fides.org/en/news/14157-VATICAN_The_death_of_Cardinal_Bernardin_Gantin_Dean_Emeritus_of_the_College_of_Cardinals_first_African_appointed_by_the_Pope_to_a_prominent_position_in_the_Roman_Curia | title = The death of Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Dean Emeritus of the College of Cardinals, first African appointed by the Pope to a prominent position in the Roman Curia | access-date = 14 March 2021}}

On 11 December 1956, Pope Pius XII appointed him titular bishop of Tipasa and auxiliary bishop of Cotonou.{{cite book | page= 81 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-49-1957-ocr.pdf |date= 1957 | volume = XXXXIX | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis }} He received his episcopal consecration on 3 February 1957 from Cardinal Eugène Tisserant, Dean of the College of Cardinals. On 5 January 1960, Pope John XXIII appointed him Archbishop of Cotonou.{{cite book | page= 328 | url =http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-52-1960-ocr.pdf | date= 1960 | volume = LII | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis }} As archbishop, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), where he first became friends with the future Pope John Paul II.

He was chairman of the West African Episcopal Conference.

Roman curia

Pope Paul VI appointed him to the Roman Curia and gave him a series of assignments, starring as adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in 1971 and secretary of that Congregation in 1973. On 19 December 1975 he was named Vice President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and on 5 January 1976 Gantin received the additional responsibilities of the Vice President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, as Pope Paul was combining those two departments.

In 1976, Pope Paul appointed him head of the President of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace, making him the first African to head a curial department. This commission was headed by a cardinal, so Gantin held the title Pro-President until Pope Paul made him a cardinal on 27 June 1977. He was made a member of the order of cardinal deacons and assigned the deaconry of Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re.{{cite book | pages= 377, 380 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-69-1977-ocr.pdf |date= 1977 | volume = LXIX | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis}}

On 4 September 1978, he was named President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum by Pope John Paul I, the only administrative appointment of his month-long papacy.{{cite book | page= 755| url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-70-1978-ocr.pdf |date= 1978 | volume = LXX | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis}} Gantin met with John Paul I the day before he died.

He participated in the 1978 conclaves that elected Popes Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II.{{cite interview | first = Bernadin | last= Gantin | access-date = 14 March 2021 | url = http://www.30giorni.it/articoli_id_1519_l3.htm | interviewer = Gianni Cardinale | work = 30Giorni | title = "They were all very content" | date = September 2003 }} At the first of them he was reportedly one of three cardinals who counted the votes. During the second of these conclaves, Gantin was thought to be one of the papabili, those cardinals who are thought to have a chance of being elected pope.{{cite news | access-date = 13 March 2021 | work = The Guardian|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/may/15/catholicism.religion | title = Cardinal Bernadin Gantin | first = Peter | last = Stanford }}

Image:Cardinal-gantin-messa.jpg (Lodi), Italy, 1984]]

In 1982, he accompanied Pope John Paul II on his visit to Benin.

On 8 April 1984, Pope John Paul II appointed him prefect of the Congregation for Bishops,{{cite book | page=508| url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-76-1984-ocr.pdf | date= 1984 | volume = LXXVI | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis}} which supervises episcopal appointments in the non-missionary Latin Rite dioceses throughout the world. He was also made president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. On 25 June 1984, Gantin opted to become a member of the order of cardinal priests.{{cite book | page= 755 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-76-1984-ocr.pdf | date= 1984 | volume = LXXVI | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis}} For the next fourteen years he collaborated with Pope John Paul in shaping the hierarchy of the Church, both in making appointments and in managing the agendas for the periodic visits bishops make to consult with the pope and the Curia.{{cite news | work = The Independent | access-date = 14 March 2021 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cardinal-bernardin-gantin-ally-of-john-paul-ii-who-exercised-great-influence-at-the-vatican-as-head-of-the-congregation-for-bishops-831050.html | date = 23 October 2011 | title =

Cardinal Bernardin Gantin: Ally of John Paul II who exercised great influence at the Vatican as head of the Congregation for Bishops }} On the pope's behalf he managed appointments of conservative prelates in dioceses that did not welcome them in the Netherlands and Switzerland, removed an outspoken liberal French bishop, contended with Latin American advocates for the rights of indigenous peoples, and the excommunication of Marcel Lefebvre, with whom he had worked in Africa in the 1960s. Years later, John Paul referred to their years of "regular contact and an almost unique familiarity".{{cite web | access-date = 14 March 2021 | url = http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20010113_gantin-50-priesthood.html | date= 14 December 2000 | title = Letter of John Paul II to Cardinal Bernadin Gantin on the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood| publisher = Libreria Editrice Vaticana }}

Cardinal bishop and dean

On 29 September 1986, Pope John Paul II appointed Gantin cardinal bishop of the suburbicarian diocese of Palestrina,{{cite book | page = 1070 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-78-1986-ocr.pdf | date= 1986 | volume = LXXVIII | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis }} one of six Latin-church members of the highest rank of cardinals, responsible for electing the dean and sub dean of the college who manage the conclave that elects the pope.

The six Latin-church cardinal bishops elect the dean and subdean, who takes his position when the pope consents to the election. On 5 June 1993, Gantin was elected and confirmed Dean of the College of Cardinals, which gave him the additional title cardinal bishop of Ostia. He was the first non-European to hold this office and remains the only one.{{cite news | access-date = 2 January 2024 | url = https://www.acistampa.com/story/17757/i-decani-del-sacro-collegio-il-cardinale-bernardin-gantin-17757 | title = I Decani del Sacro Collegio: il Cardinale Bernardin Gantin | language = it | date = 30 August 2021 | first = Marco| last = Mancini}}

He ended his service as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on 25 June 1998. Less than a year later, in April 1999, he endorsed a views of Cardinal Vincenzo Fagiolo that bishops need to consider themselves married to their sees and expect their relationship to be lifelong. He said he had been shocked by overt expressions of "careerism" and "social climbing". He suggested that bishops should be transferred "to less developed, more difficult sees rather than to more comfortable and prestigious ones". He also said that there should be no connection between a see and a place in the College of Cardinals, offering Milan as an example.{{cite interview | first = Bernadin | last= Gantin | access-date = 14 March 2021 | url = http://www.30giorni.it/articoli_id_18214_l3.htm | interviewer = Gianni Cardinale | work = 30Giorni | title = "Once a bishop is appointed to a particular see, he must generally and in principle stay there for ever" | date = May 2008}} This interview conducted in April 1999 was republished in 2008.

On 29 November 2002, with the permission of Pope John Paul, he retired as Dean of the College of Cardinals and cardinal bishop of Ostia,{{cite web | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2002/11/30/0593/01886.html | language = it | date= 19 March 2002 | access-date = 13 March 2021 | title = Lettera del Santo Padre all'Em.mo Card. Bernadin Gantin per la Dispensa dall'Ufficio di Decano del Collegio Cardinalizio, 30.11.2002 | publisher = Holy See Press Office}} The pope's letter is date 19 March 2002 and published on 29 November without explanation.{{efn|His retirement allowed Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to succeed him as dean, which some Vatican observers believe made Ratzinger's election as pope inevitable,{{cite news | access-date = 13 March 2021 | url = https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/voodoo-capital-benedict-blasts-occultism-and-evil-spirits | title = In voodoo capital, Benedict blasts 'occultism and evil spirits' | work = National Catholic Reporter | date= 19 November 2011 | first = John L. | last = Allen Jr. }} which may have motivated Gantin's repeated attempts to resign.{{cite news | work= The Atlantic | access-date = 13 March 2021 | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/01/the-year-of-two-popes/304498/ | date= January–February 2006 | title = The Year of Two Popes | first = Paul | last = Elie }} Another describes Gantin as "the inadvertent architect of Ratzinger's election" to the papacy.{{cite book | access-date = 13 March 2021 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jXhRFZDK8HIC&pg=PT67 | title = The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of How the Pope was Elected and Where He Will Take the Catholic Church | date= 2007 | publisher = Crown Publishing Group | first = John L. | last = Allen Jr. | isbn=9780307424105 }}}} which required he reside in Rome. Now eighty years old, he retired to Cotonou, which he had visited regularly throughout his years in Rome.{{cite news | work = The New York Times | access-date = 13 March 2021| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/world/europe/16gantin.html | title = Bernardin Gantin, Cardinal, 86, Is Dead | date= 16 May 2008 | agency = Associated Press}} He remained cardinal bishop of Palestrina. Two years into his retirement he described his situation: "I left Rome in body but not in spirit. I am a Roman missionary in my country."{{cite interview | first = Bernadin | last= Gantin | access-date = 14 March 2021 | url = http://www.30giorni.it/articoli_id_7875_l3.htm | interviewer = Gianni Cardinale | work = 30Giorni | title = "I remain a Roman missionary in my country" | date = January 2005 }}

In retirement he spoke more freely than he had while under the obligations of office. In 2006 he criticized his contemporary bishops in Africa: "If I have to make a complaint it would be this: if at one time the bishops moved little, today they travel too much. Sitting down, listening, praying with their own believers is more that ever necessary and urgent for them. Always keeping in mind what is set down in canon 395 of the Code of Canon Law on the obligation of residence in their diocese, they can also be an example to their own priests." He warned against allowing African priests to relocate permanently in Europe, to "roam the dioceses of the Western world more in search of their own material comfort than out of genuine pastoral zeal". And he warned European religious orders against such personnel transfers: "The European religious congregations on their last legs or threatened with extinction should not go seeking cheap reinvigoration among the young Churches in Asia or Africa."{{cite interview | first = Bernadin | last= Gantin | access-date = 14 March 2021 | url = http://www.30giorni.it/articoli_id_10645_l3.htm | interviewer = Gianni Cardinale | work = 30Giorni | title = My Africa blessed by the Lord | date = June 2006 }}

Death and legacy

Gantin died at Pompidou Hospital in Paris after a long illness on 13 May 2008, less than a week after being transferred there from Benin and five days after his 86th birthday.[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/global/article3932927.ece Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Africa's leading cardinal, has died]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}; The Times, 14 May 2008 The Beninese government declared three days of mourning for him, beginning on 14 May.{{cite news | url = http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=63569 | title = Benin starts three-day national mourning for late Cardinal Gantin |access-date = 13 March 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518010305/http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=63569 |archive-date=18 May 2008 | publisher = African Press Agency | date= 14 May 2008}}

Pope Benedict XVI visited his tomb in the chapel of the Seminary of Saint Gall in Ouidah on 19 November 2011.{{cite news | access-date = 13 March 2021 | url = https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/lonely-liberation-theology-benedict-xvi | date = 20 November 2011 | title = The lonely liberation theology of Benedict XVI | work = National Catholic Reporter | first = John L. | last = Allen Jr. }}

In May 2013, Vatican officials inaugurated a chair named for him devoted to "Socializing Policy in Africa" at the Pontifical Lateran University.{{cite press release | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/05/23/0323.pdf | access-date = 12 March 2021 | title = Conferenza Stampa di Presentazione della Cattedra "Cardinal Bernadin Gantin" nella Pontificia Università Lateranense | date= 25 May 2013 | language = it}}

The Cadjehoun Airport, Benin's main international airport, was named in his honor.{{cite web | access-date = 13 March 2021 | url = https://anac.bj/reamenagement-de-laeroport-international-cardinal-bernadin-gantin-de-cotonou | language = fr | website = Agence National de l'Aviation Civile | title = Réaménagement de l'Aéroport International Cardinal Bernadin Gantin de Cotonou }}

Cause of beatification and canonization

On 30 January 2025, the Episcopal Conference of the Italian Region of Lazio, which includes the Diocese of Rome, has issued a favourable opinion for the opening of the cause for beatification of Gantin, the first African to lead the Dicastery for Bishops in the Vatican.{{Cite web |title=Cardinal Gantin’s sainthood cause opens {{!}} News Headlines |url=https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=64621 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.catholicculture.org}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=Italian bishops initiate beatification process for Beninese cardinal |url=https://international.la-croix.com/religion/italian-bishops-initiate-beatification-process-for-beninese-cardinal |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=La croix international |language=en}}

Notes

References

External links

{{cite web |url = http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_gantin_b_en.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | archive-date= 28 April 2005 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050428015611/http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_gantin_b_en.html |title= Gantin, Card. Bernadin }}
{{cite web | url = http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgantinb.html | website = Catholic Hierarchy | title =Bernardin Cardinal Gantin }} Wikipedia:SPS
{{cite web | website = The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church | url = https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1977.htm#Gantin | title = Gantin, Bernadin}} Wikipedia:SPS

{{s-tul|title=Titular Bishop of Tipasa in Mauretania|years=11 December 1956 – 5 January 1960}}

{{s-ttl|title=Archbishop of Cotonou|years= 5 January 1960 – 28 June 1971}}

{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples|years=26 February 1973 – 19 December 1975}}

{{s-ttl|title=Vice-President of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace|years=19 December 1975 – 16 December 1976}}

{{s-ttl|title=Vice-President of the Pontifical Council Cor unum|years=16 December 1976 – 4 September 1978}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace|years=16 December 1976 – 8 April 1984}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cardinal-Deacon of Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re|years=27 June 1977 – 25 June 1984}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the Pontifical Council Cor unum|years=4 September 1978 – 8 April 1984}}

{{s-ttl|title=Vice-President of Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses|years=1983–1989}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People|years=8 April 1984 – 1 March 1989}}

{{s-ttl|title=Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops|years=8 April 1984 – 25 June 1998}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America|years=8 April 1984 – 25 June 1998}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cardinal-Priest pro hac vice of Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re|years=25 June 1984 – 29 September 1986}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina|years=29 September 1986 – 13 May 2008}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia|years=5 June 1993 – 30 November 2002}}

{{s-ttl|title=Dean of the College of Cardinals|years=5 June 1993 – 30 November 2002}}

{{Subject bar |portal1=Saints |portal2= Biography |portal3= Catholicism}}

Category:1922 births

Category:2008 deaths

Category:Officials of the Roman Curia

Category:Servants of God

Category:Venerated Catholics

Category:Beninese cardinals

Category:Cardinal-bishops of Ostia

Category:Cardinal-bishops of Palestrina

Category:Deans of the College of Cardinals

Category:Beninese Roman Catholic archbishops

Category:Participants in the Second Vatican Council

Category:Members of the Congregation for Bishops

Category:Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

Category:Pontifical Council Cor Unum

Category:Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants

Category:Pontifical Commission for Latin America

Category:Cardinals created by Pope Paul VI

Category:Recipients of the Order of the White Lion

Category:Members of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco

Category:People from Atlantique Department

Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Cotonou

Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Cotonou

Category:Prefects of the Dicastery for Bishops