Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born to a bourgeoisie family, Achille Liénart received his early education in his native Lille, later moving to Paris, where he frequented among others the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, the Institut Catholique and the University of La Sorbonne. Ordained priest there in June 1907, during the Great War he volunteered to serve as a military chaplain, being decorated with the grand cross of the Order of Legion d'honneur in 1917. A staunch supporter and promoter of worker priests, trade unions and social reform in 1928 he was appointed bishop of Lille, receiving his episcopal consecration on December 8 that year. Less than two years later, Pope Pius XI created him cardinal priest in the consistory of June 30, 1930, with the title of San Sisto. As Lille was never a cardinalitial see, his elevation came as a sign of the Pope's approval in Liénart's defense of the right of working men to form unions. Opposing Nazism openly during the Second World War, Liénart acted as president of the French Episcopal Conference between 1948 and 1964, and was named the Mission de France's first prelate in 1954 an office which he held for the next ten years. Member of the Board of Presidency of the Second Vatican Council, he retired from office in 1968, passing away in Lille a few years later.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born to a bourgeoisie family, Achille Liénart received his early education in his native Lille, later moving to Paris, where he frequented among others the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, the Institut Catholique and the University of La Sorbonne. Ordained priest there in June 1907, during the Great War he volunteered to serve as a military chaplain, being decorated with the grand cross of the Order of Legion d'honneur in 1917. A staunch supporter and promoter of worker priests, trade unions and social reform in 1928 he was appointed bishop of Lille, receiving his episcopal consecration on December 8 that year. Less than two years later, Pope Pius XI created him cardinal priest in the consistory of June 30, 1930, with the title of San Sisto. As Lille was never a cardinalitial see, his elevation came as a sign of the Pope's approval in Liénart's defense of the right of working men to form unions. Opposing Nazism openly during the Second World War, Liénart acted as president of the French Episcopal Conference between 1948 and 1964, and was named the Mission de France's first prelate in 1954 an office which he held for the next ten years. Member of the Board of Presidency of the Second Vatican Council, he retired from office in 1968, passing away in Lille a few years later.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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