Roman Catholic Cardinal. The 7th Archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, he was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his endeavors to promote racial equality and arms control. Born in Columbia, South Carolina. To Italian immigrants, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1952 and rose swiftly up the chain of church hierarchy. He became auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, making him the youngest bishop in the country, which led to his appointment as archbishop of the diocese of Cincinnati. He finally became the leader of Chicago's 2.3 million member diocese, which he held for eleven years culminating in his elevation to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II. He is best remembered for sharing with his congregation his losing and fatal bout with pancreatic cancer. He died at his residence, followed by two days of mourning during which more than 100,000 people filed past his coffin at Holy Name Cathedral. His funeral Mass was celebrated by his friend Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles. Following the mass, a funeral procession made a 20-mile trip through the Archdiocese neighborhoods and suburbs on its way to the Bishop's Chapel, which is the burial place of all past Chicago church leaders.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. The 7th Archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, he was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his endeavors to promote racial equality and arms control. Born in Columbia, South Carolina. To Italian immigrants, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1952 and rose swiftly up the chain of church hierarchy. He became auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, making him the youngest bishop in the country, which led to his appointment as archbishop of the diocese of Cincinnati. He finally became the leader of Chicago's 2.3 million member diocese, which he held for eleven years culminating in his elevation to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II. He is best remembered for sharing with his congregation his losing and fatal bout with pancreatic cancer. He died at his residence, followed by two days of mourning during which more than 100,000 people filed past his coffin at Holy Name Cathedral. His funeral Mass was celebrated by his friend Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles. Following the mass, a funeral procession made a 20-mile trip through the Archdiocese neighborhoods and suburbs on its way to the Bishop's Chapel, which is the burial place of all past Chicago church leaders.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Bernardin memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
