Perhaps the last bishop from the reign of Pope Pius XII dies!

RIP Cardinal Bernard Gantin...

As John Thavis tells us in the magazine "Inside The Vatican," June/July 2008 combine issue:

"Born May 8, 1922,in what was then French West Africa the future cardinal was ordained a priest in 1951."

Fifty - one years a Bishop!

"He studied canon law at Rome's Pontifical Urbanian University and in 1957 [while Pope Pius XII was still the reigning pontiff!] was made an auxiliary bishop of Cotonou, in what is now Benin."


He just kept getting promoted!


"In 1995, he informed French Bishop Jacques Gaillot that he was being removed from the Diocese of Evreux after refusing to modify his positions on married priests, AIDS and homosexuality.

"When, at age 80, he [Cardinal Gantin] retired as dean of the College of Cardinals, a post that can be held until death, he had to convince Pope John Paul II to accept his decision.

"In an interview at that time, he said he was leaving Rome to return to Benin [in Africa] and [there to] end his life in prayer and simplicity."