Jean-Claude Turcotte

Its Eminence the cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte , born the June 26th 1936, is the archbishop of Montreal. It succeeded the cardinal Paul Gregoire the March 17th 1990.

Graduate of the faculty of theology of the University of Montreal, it made his traditional studies with the Collège Andre-Grasset of 1947 with 1955. The university gives a to him Order of Merit in 1996.

After having studied with the Great seminar, it is ordered priest the May 24th 1959. In 1965, it obtained a diploma in social Pastorale with Lille, in France. The May 14th 1982, it becomes titular bishop of Suas and auxiliary bishop of Montreal; it was ordered bishop the June 29th of this year. When the pope Jean-Paul II visited Canada in 1984, Turcotte organized its visit. It was named archbishop of Montreal March 17th 1990, following the resignation of Paul Gregoire. The February 28th 1994, the pope named it cardinal.

It publishes a weekly chronicle in the Journal of Montreal since 1995.

In 1996, it allowed that the funeral is celebrated in the funeral homes and the Chapelle S of the Cimetière S; 35% of Montréalais do not celebrate their Funérailles with the church.

Its cardinalat is marked by a Crise of the vocations; he declares that the Middle Age of the priests of sound Diocèse is 67 years. For that, he wanted moreover a revalorization of the Diaconat and the Fusion of parishes.

In March 1997, it prefaced one entitled book the essence of the catholic faith at the editions of the stag. During the year 1997, he became president of the Canadian Conférence of the catholic bishops, mandate which he kept until in 2000. It took part in JMJ of 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2005.

He likes Radio City-Marie, radio oecumenical nun and , for his diversity and his development. Mgr Turcotte often spoke there.

The cardinal supported the Maison of the Father, who helps the Itinérant S and the poor of Montreal. He also announced his interest for the pastoral one in hospital medium, that of the Fondation the Friends of Jeanne-Mance for example.

In 2000, the archbishop ordered that the collective Absolution is not given any more during the time of Easter and the Temps of the Advent. He says the funeral of Maurice Richard and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, of the personalities which he admired personally.

Speaking with the catholic Institut of Montreal in 2001, it recalled the importance of education to the faith in the young people, especially after the government pequist had undertaken the Déconfessionnalisation schools.

In 2002, it celebrates the 125e birthday of the arrival of the statue Notre-Dame de Liesse with the church of Gesù. This same year, it celebrated the beatification of Mère Gamelin.

The day before Christmas 2003, it gives a mass televised to the Cathédrale Marie-Queen-of-World. Always in 2003, it celebrates the 300e birthday of the parish Holy-Anne-to-Bellevue, gives a green mass to the Basilique Saint-Patrick and gives the Messe of opening Grand seminar of Montreal.

In 2004, it says the Homélie funeral of Claude Ryan, catholic man and political director Québécois. It is a very mediatized character: he is at ease to discuss on television, VAT with Paul Arcand or with the Radio-Canada Company. Curious fact, the minister Sheila Copps showed it to plot with the souverainists at the time of the Référendum of 1995.

In 2005, it celebrated the passage of Jean-Paul II, speaking about its action single missionary and having a memory of cordial contacts with him. Having taken part in the conclave which elected Benoît XVI, it qualified this of “human and spiritual experiment single”. Certain nationalists had wished that he become pope, but he did not want it for itself. He speaks French, English and a little Italian. One saw his lack of competence in Italian, like his lack of international experience, like defects in the papal election.

In December 2006, Mgr Turcotte decided in favor of a greater international cooperation within the framework of the authorities of UNO. The March 7th 2007, it carries out a pilgrimage in Rome and meets the pope Benoît XVI.

Important dates

June 26th 1936: Birth with Montreal
May 24th 1959: Sacerdotal ordination
June 29th 1982: Episcopal ordination
March 17th 1990: Archbishop of Montreal
November 26th 1994: Cardinal

Quotations

“The marriage is a natural institution which precedes any social organization, legal and connected with the church and any Charter of the rights. It is not by transforming this institution that discrimination against the merry ones and the lesbians will cease automatically.”

( Concerning the merry marriage in Canada )

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“Finished, Québécois Christendom!
Finished, catechesis at the school!
Finished crammed churches, Sunday!
Finished, parishes animated by three, four or five priests!
Finished, this time when the word of the Church and its ministers made law!”

( Speech with the seminarists )

Internal bonds

External bonds

of Jean-Claude Turcotte in the Newspaper of Montreal
biographical Notes of the diocese of Montreal
Note of the University of Sherbrooke

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