Godfried Cardinal Danneels

was born in Kanegem (Province of West- Flanders) on June 4th, 1933. He is the eldest child of a family of six. ). . From 1951 till 1954 he resided at the Leo XIII College of the Catholic University of Louvain and graduated in philosophy (Masters Degree). After that he was sent to the Belgian College in Rome (1954-1959), was ordained priest on August 17th, 1957 and obtained his DD at the Grego­rian University in Rome in 1961.

 

In 1959 Mgr De Smedt, Bishop of Bruges, appointed him as spiritual director at the diocesan theological Seminary of Bruges and professor of Liturgy and sacramental theology. In 1969 he was put in charge of the post- ordination training of the priests of the diocese and became professor at the Flemish Catholic University of Louvain, teaching the same subjects as in the Seminary. At the same time he was the editing secretary of "Colla­tiones", the theological and pastoral inter-diocesan magazine for the Flemish dioceses. When the permanent diaconate was inaugurated in his diocese, it belonged to Father Danneels to build and apply an education programme for the new deacons.

 

His scholarship activity is specially turned towards liturgy. He contributed to the Dictionary of Liturgy which made him known outside the Belgian borders, and his contributions at liturgical congresses and sessions were much appreciated. One notes as well his great concern to publicise through lectures, articles and brochures, addressed to the public in gene­ral, the progress of theology, in such matters as : confession, anointment of the sick and marriage.

 

On the 16th of November 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed Father Danneels as Bishop of Antwerp. He was consecrated Bishop by his Metropo­litan Cardi­nal L.J. Suenens on the 18th December 1977. Bishop Danneels was chairman of the Flemish interdiocesan commission for liturgy and represented the high Episcopal authority at the administrative council of the Flemish Catholic University of Louvain until 1979.

 

The 30th of October 1979, Pope John-Paul appointed him as second delegate chairman together with Cardinal J. Willebrands at the special Synod of Dutch bishops to be held in Rome in early 1980.

 

In june 1978 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and he remained a member till 1996.        

 

On December 21, 1979 Pope Paul II appointed bishop Godfried Danneels as Archbishop of Malines-Brussels, succeeding Cardinal Suenens who resigned when attai­ning the age limit of 75 years. According to the statutes of the Church of Belgium, he also became Chairman of the Conference of the Belgian Bishops. He was canonically enthroned in the Cathedral of Malines on Janua­ry 4, 1980.

                       

On the 2nd of February 1983, Pope John-Paul II created Mgr Danneels Cardinal-priest of the title Santa Anastasia and appointed him member of the Congregation for Catholic Education. Later on Cardinal Danneels was also appointed member of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of the Nations, the Council for Public Affairs of the Church, the Congregation of Catholic Education, the Congregation of Divine Worship, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Secretariat for the non-believers.

 
In 1985 he was named relater of the special Synod of Bishops, at the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the second Vatican Council.

After the Synod of 1987, he was again elected as member of the permanent Secretariat of the Synod.

In June 1987, he was also appointed as member of the Special Synod of Dutch Bishops.

From May 26, 1990 till June 28th, 1999, the Cardinal was also International President of Pax Christi.

 

As a bishop, Mgr Danneels's concerns go to the spiritual nurture of his clergy and laity and particularly to the necessary spiritual renewal and teamwork between priests and lay-persons.

 

Like his predecessors, the new titular of the see of Malines is very keen to maintain the ecumenical tradition inaugurated by his great prede­cessor Cardinal Mercier in the "Malines Conversations" (1921-1926), the first return to the world of dialogue after the tragic separation of the past. Since then, the special links between the Anglican Communion and Malines continue on a regular basis.

Cardinal Danneels is also involved in the Interreligious Dialogue. As co-moderator of the Committee of the European Council of Religious Leaders/Religions for Peace (ECRL)

Together with three other European Cardinals, Cardinal Danneels took the initiative for international missionary congresses in Vienna (card. Ch. Schönborn), Paris (card. J.M. Lustiger), Lisbon (card. J. Da Cruz Policarpo) and Brussels. The congresses want to motivate new mission initiatives all over the world.

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