Long-serving Cardinal Baum lived a generous response to God

Last updated on: July 25, 2015 at 5:25 pm by CNA Daily News

Long-serving Cardinal Baum lived a generous response to God 2015-07-25T17:25:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Jul 25, 2015 / 11:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal William W. Baum, a past Archbishop of Washington and the longest-serving American cardinal, died on Thursday at the age of 88. His death prompted outpourings of thanksgiving for his life and a special telegram from Pope Francis.

“As we grieve our loss we also thank God for his ministry,” Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington said July 24. “Cardinal Baum was a joy-filled priest with a firm personal commitment to serve the Lord, which he did faithfully for 64 years of ordained life.”

Pope Francis in a July 25 telegram to Cardinal Wuerl commended the deceased prelate’s soul to “God the Father of mercies.”

“I offer my heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayers, to you and to all the faithful of the Archdiocese,” the Pope said.

Cardinal Baum passed away July 23 in the District of Columbia. He was Archbishop of Washington from 1973 to 1980 and was a cardinal for 39 years.

The future cardinal was born in Dallas, Texas Nov. 21, 1926 to a Presbyterian father and a Catholic mother. His family moved to Kansas City, where he began to serve as an altar boy at age ten. He took the last name of his Jewish stepfather, who died when he was twelve, the Washington Post reports.

He studied at Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained a priest in May 1951. He served in Kansas City-area parishes and taught at several high schools and colleges. He studied in Rome at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, earning a licentiate and a doctorate in sacred theology, the Archdiocese of Washington says.

Pope John XXIII named him a monsignor in 1961. During the Second Vatican Council, he served as an advisor to Kansas City Bishop Charles Helmsing. The Holy See later named him a “peritus,” an expert, for the council. In that role he served under the Secretariat for Christian Unity. He participated in the drafting process of “Unitatis Redintegratio,” the council’s decree on ecumenism.

Cardinal Baum was a leader in ecumenical and interreligious work. He served on several joint groups and committees between the Catholic Church and bodies like the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation.

In February 1970, Pope Paul VI chose Msgr. Baum to become Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, a Missouri diocese. He chose as his episcopal motto “Ministry of Reconciliation.” In March 1973, the Pope named him Archbishop of Washington.

He had several leadership roles in the U.S. bishops’ conference. He was chancellor for the Catholic University of America and a delegate to the World Synod of Bishops in 1971.

He was named a cardinal in 1976. He would serve in three papal conclaves and in several Vatican congregations.

Cardinal Baum served as Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and was Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican department which oversees issues involved with the forgiveness of sins. He was on the commission that drafted the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis’ telegram to Cardinal Wuerl praised Cardinal Baum’s “long service” to the Holy See.

Cardinal Wuerl thanked God for “the generosity with which Cardinal Baum responded with a quiet but firm and enduring yes to God’s call.”

Previous Post

July 25, 2015

What you think you know about human trafficking is probably wrong

Next Post

July 25, 2015 How Laudato Si is being put into practice in India

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How tall was Goliath according to the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

About 9 feet 9 inches About 8 feet About 6 feet 5 inches About 10 feet 5 inches