Roman Catholic Cardinal. The cousin of excommunicated Archbishop Marcel François Lefebvre former ordinary of Dakar and superior general of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Joseph-Charles Lefebvre was like his cousin a native of Tourcoing. Frequenting the Catholic University of Lille, he went on to further his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical French Seminary. Joining the French Army during the Great War, he was taken prisoner of war in Belgium shortly thereafter, being ultimately released during a prisoner exchange in 1918. Ordained priest on December 17, 1921, he rendered ministry in Poitiers, serving among others as vicar general of the diocese between 1936 and 1938. Pope Pius XII elected him bishop of Troyes on July 27 of the latter year, receiving his episcopal consecration on the following October 11. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Bourges on June 17, 1943, Pope John XXIII created him cardinal priest in the consistory of of March 28, 1960 with the title of San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini. President of the French Episcopal Conference from 1965 until 1969, Lefebvre retired from the pastoral government of his see on October 10, 1969. Passing away in his episcopal city, he was laid to rest at the local cathedral.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. The cousin of excommunicated Archbishop Marcel François Lefebvre former ordinary of Dakar and superior general of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Joseph-Charles Lefebvre was like his cousin a native of Tourcoing. Frequenting the Catholic University of Lille, he went on to further his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical French Seminary. Joining the French Army during the Great War, he was taken prisoner of war in Belgium shortly thereafter, being ultimately released during a prisoner exchange in 1918. Ordained priest on December 17, 1921, he rendered ministry in Poitiers, serving among others as vicar general of the diocese between 1936 and 1938. Pope Pius XII elected him bishop of Troyes on July 27 of the latter year, receiving his episcopal consecration on the following October 11. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Bourges on June 17, 1943, Pope John XXIII created him cardinal priest in the consistory of of March 28, 1960 with the title of San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini. President of the French Episcopal Conference from 1965 until 1969, Lefebvre retired from the pastoral government of his see on October 10, 1969. Passing away in his episcopal city, he was laid to rest at the local cathedral.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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