- Jean-Claude Turcotte
infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=Jean-Claude Turcotte
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
See=Montréal|Jean-Claude Turcotte, O.C. (born
June 26 ,1936 ) is aRoman Catholic cardinal and Archbishop of Montréal. His full title is "Cardinal of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and the HolyCanadian Martyrs ."Born in
Montreal , Turcotte attended Collège André-Grasset from1947 to1955 , and then studied at the Grand Seminaire. He was ordained apriest onMay 24 ,1959 . In1965 he earned a diploma in social ministry inLille ,France . OnApril 14 ,1982 he becametitular bishop ofSuas andauxiliary bishop of Montreal, and was consecrated onJune 29 of that year. WhenPope John Paul II visitedCanada in1984 , Turcotte organized his visit to Montreal. He was appointed archbishop of Montreal onMarch 17 ,1990 . John Paul II appointed him aCardinal-Priest of "Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi " onFebruary 28 ,1994 . From1997 to2000 he was president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Turcotte has participated in the1993 ,1997 ,2000 , and2003 World Youth Day s.Cardinal Turcotte is known for his work with the poor, and writes a weekly religion column in the Sunday edition of the "
Journal de Montréal ". In1996 he was made an Officer theOrder of Canada .He was a voting member (cardinal elector) of the
College of Cardinals in the 2005 papal conclave, andMargaret Hebblethwaite , co-author of the book "The Next Pope", identified him as "papabile ". Other books and the BBC also identified him as a long-shot possibility for pope.Daniel Cere , head of the Newman Centre atMcGill University , told "The Toronto Star " that Turcotte "is very much a pastoral figure, much like John Paul II." A Toronto priest told the newspaper he was "your man if you want a pastoral "bon vivant"Pope John XXIII figure." John Allen wrote in the2002 book "Conclave" that Turcotte was seen as a "diamond in the rough, a potentially magnificent leader who is still finding his way."His lack of proficiency in the
Italian language , and his lack of international experience, were seen as shortcomings.On September 11th, 2008, Cardinal Turcotte returned his
Order of Canada insignia in protest of the induction of Pro-choice activistHenry Morgentaler on July 1st, 2008. Although the return of his insignia happened later than others who have protested against Morgentaler's entry, he had hoped that the Consultative Council for the Order of Canada would revise itsdecision. However, fearing that his silence on the matter might be misinterpreted, Turcotte renounced his title Officer of the Order of Canada and returned his insignia.References
* [http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=116 Cardinal Turcotte] on [http://www.catholic-pages.com/ catholic-pages.com]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bturcotte.html Cardinal Turcotte] on [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/ catholic-hierarchy.org]
* [http://diocesemontreal.org/archeveque/biographie_arc/english.htm Cardinal Turcotte] at [http://diocesemontreal.org/ Diocese of Montreal]
* [http://diocesemontreal.org/archeveque/chronique_arc/index.htm Cardinal Turcotte's column] in the Journal de Montréal (in French)
* [http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/lemonde/archives/2005/04/20050402-153018.html Qui succédera à Jean-Paul II?] (Le Canal Nouvelles , April 2 2005; in French)
*John L. Allen , "Conclave: The Politics, Personalities, and Process of the Next Papal Election" ISBN 0-385-50453-5
* "Montreal cardinal 'long shot'" ("Toronto Star ", April 4 2005, page A7)
* "Declaration by Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, Archbishop of Montréal" [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2008/11/c3640.html] , [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/09/11/mtl-turcotte0911.html?ref=rss]s-ttl|title=Cardinal Archbishop of Montreal
years=1990–present
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