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.


George Flahiff

Archbishop Emeritus of Winnipeg
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseWinnipeg
SeeWinnipeg
Appointed10 March 1961
Installed26 June 1961
Term ended31 March 1982
PredecessorPhilip Francis Pocock
SuccessorAdam 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
Ordination17 August 1930
by Neil McNeil
Consecration31 May 1961
by James Charles McGuigan
Created cardinal28 April 1969
by Pope Paul VI
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
George Bernard Flahiff

26 October 1905
Died22 August 1989(1989-08-22) (aged 83)
Saint Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationSaint Michael's College
Alma materUniversity of Strasbourg
MottoIn ipso per ipsum cum ipso
Styles of
George Flahiff
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeWinnipeg

Early life and education

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  • P. Wallace Platt (1999). Gentle Eminence: A Life of Cardinal Flahiff. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-2007-4.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Winnipeg
1960–1982
Succeeded by