Gérald Lacroix

His Eminence
Gérald Lacroix
ISPX
Cardinal, Archbishop of Québec
Archdiocese Québec
Province Québec
See Québec
Appointed 22 February 2011
Installed 25 March 2011
Predecessor Marc Ouellet, PSS
Other posts Cardinal-Priest of San Giuseppe all’Aurelio
Primate of Canada
Orders
Ordination 8 October 1988
by Maurice Couture
Consecration 24 May 2009
by Marc Ouellet
Created Cardinal 22 February 2014
by Pope Francis
Rank Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name Gérald Cyprien Lacroix
Born 27 July 1957
Saint-Hilaire-de-Dorset, Quebec, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Denomination Roman Catholic
Parents
  • Brigitte Laurendeau
  • Raymond Lacroix
Previous post
  • Auxiliary Bishop of Québec (2009-2011)
  • Titular Bishop of Hilta (2009-2011)
Motto
  • mane nobiscum Domine
  • (Stay with us, Lord)
Coat of arms
Styles of
Gérald Cyprien Lacroix
Spoken style
Informal style Cardinal

Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, ISPX,[1] (born 27 July 1957), is the current Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 22 February 2011, and (as of 22 February 2014) a Cardinal. He had previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Québec.[2]

Early life

Lacroix was born in 1957 in Saint-Hilaire-de-Dorset in the Archdiocese of Québec, and completed his secondary and higher education at Trinity High School in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Saint Anselm College in the neighbouring town of Goffstown. He then studied for his theological training at Laval University, obtaining a BA in theology. He continued with a master's degree in pastoral theology. In 1975 he was accepted at the Pius X Secular Institute and took perpetual vows in 1982.

Priesthood

In 1982 he became Secretary General of the Institute and since 1985 has been Director of the General Council. From 1985 to 1987 he was appointed general manager of the Institute's Christian formation and spiritual center. He was ordained priest on 8 October 1988 by Archbishop Maurice Couture, R.S.V., in the Parish of Notre-Dame-de-la-Récouvrance.

From 1990 to 2000 he worked in Colombia, where he opened new houses of the Institute. From 2001 to 2004 he was Director General of the Institute, and re-elected for five years from 2005 to 2010.

Episcopacy

He was appointed Titular Bishop of Ilta and Auxiliary Bishop of Québec on 7 April 2009 and received episcopal consecration on 24 May with Marc Cardinal Ouellet as principal consecrator, the principal co-consecrators being Archbishop Maurice Couture, R.S.V. and Msgr. Gilles Lemay.

On 22 February 2011 Msgr. Lacroix was appointed Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada, replacing Cardinal Ouellet, who had been appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops on 30 June 2010. During the sede vacante Msgr. Lacroix was elected diocesan administrator by the College of Consultors. He is currently one of the co-chairmen of the Committee on Life and Family of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. After his appointment, Lacroix said that he would continue the work of Cardinal Ouellet and "re-evangelize" the province. Lacroix noted that he favours a discussion-based approach. "I'm going to be different. One thing is certain: I will preach the Gospel. If people expect something else, they'll be disappointed," he said.[3]

Msgr. Lacroix received an honorary doctorate in Divinity from Saint Anselm College at the college's 118th commencement exercises held on May 21, 2011. He was also the commencement speaker.[4]

He received the pallium from Pope Benedict on 29 June 2011, the Feast of SS Peter and Paul in Rome along with all other metropolitan archbishops appointed since 2010. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals at the consistory on 22 February 2014.[5]

See also

References

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Marc Cardinal Ouellet, PSS
Primate of Canada
22 February 2011 – present
Incumbent
Archbishop of Quebec
22 February 2011 – present