George Flahiff

George Bernard Flahiff, CC, C.S.B. (26 October 1905 – 22 August 1989) was a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Winnipeg from 1961 to 1982, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969.

His Eminence George Flahiff C.S.B.
Archbishop Emeritus of Winnipeg
Church	Roman Catholic Church
Archdiocese	Winnipeg
See	Winnipeg
Appointed	10 March 1961
Installed	26 June 1961
Term ended	31 March 1982
Predecessor	Philip Francis Pocock
Successor	Adam Joseph Exner
Other post(s)	Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle (1969–89)
Previous post(s)	Superior General of Congregation of Saint Basil (1954–61) President of the Canadian Episcopal Conference (1964–67)
Orders
Ordination	17 August 1930 by Neil McNeil
Consecration	31 May 1961 by James Charles McGuigan
Created cardinal	28 April 1969 by Pope Paul VI
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born	George Bernard Flahiff 26 October 1905 Paris, Ontario, Canada
Died	22 August 1989(1989-08-22) (aged 83) Saint Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Education	Saint Michael's College
Alma mater	University of Strasbourg
Motto	In ipso per ipsum cum ipso

Styles of George Flahiff
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal
See	Winnipeg

Early life and education

One of nine children, George Flahiff was born in Paris, Ontario; his father was an innkeeper. He attended St. Jerome's College in Kitchener from 1920 to 1921, and then studied at St. Michael's College in Toronto, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1926. One of his professors at St. Michael's was Lester B. Pearson, the future Prime Minister who encouraged Flahiff to follow a career in diplomacy. Flahiff instead joined the Congregation of St. Basil (also known as the Basilian Fathers) in 1926, making his first profession on 20 September 1927.

Priesthood

After three years' study of theology at St. Basil's Seminary in Toronto, Flahiff was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Neil McNeil on 17 August 1930. He then furthered his studies in France at the University of Strasbourg (1930–1931) and at the École des Chartes (1931–1935). Upon his return to Canada, Flahiff taught history and art at the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies from 1935 to 1954. During that time, he also served as a professor of history at the University of Toronto (1940–1954) and Secretary of the Institute of Mediaeval Studies (1943–1951).

Flahiff became a member of the general council of the Basilian Fathers on 6 July 1948. He was elected local superior of the Basilians on 1 July 1951, and later superior general of the entire congregation on 6 July 1954. Reelected as superior general on 14 June 1960, he also served as President of the Canadian Religious Conference from 1959 to 1961.

Episcopal career

On 10 March 1961, Flahiff was appointed Archbishop of Winnipeg by Pope John XXIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 31 from Cardinal James Charles McGuigan, with Archbishops Philip Francis Pocock and Michael Cornelius O'Neill serving as co-consecrators, at St. Michael's Cathedral.

Flahiff was created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1969. In 1974, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Flahiff was one of the Council Fathers at Vatican II and played a key role in the writing of several Conciliar documents.

The Cardinal Flahiff Building, which is part of University of St. Michael's College within the University of Toronto, is named after him.

See also

References

• P. Wallace Platt (1999). Gentle Eminence: A Life of Cardinal Flahiff. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-2007-4.

External links

• Order of Canada citation
• George Flahiff at Find a Grave

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Philip Francis Pocock	Archbishop of Winnipeg 1960–1982	Succeeded by Adam Joseph Exner