Bernardin Gantin
Bernardin Gantin | |
|---|---|
| Dean of the College of Cardinals | |
Gantin during his early years as a cardinal | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Palestrina |
| Installed | 5 June 1993 |
| Term ended | 30 November 2002 |
| Predecessor | Agnelo Rossi |
| Successor | Joseph Alois Ratzinger |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 14 January 1951 by Louis Parisot |
| Consecration | 3 February 1957 by Eugène Tisserant |
| Created cardinal | 27 June 1977 by Pope Paul VI |
| Rank | Cardinal-Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 May 1922 |
| Died | 13 May 2008 (aged 86) Paris, France |
| Motto | In tuo sancto servitio (In your holy service) |
| Coat of arms | |
| Sainthood | |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Title as Saint | Servant of God |
| Styles of Bernardin Gantin | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| 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.