Anthony Bevilacqua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia | |
| See | Philadelphia |
| Appointed | December 8, 1987 |
| Enthroned | February 11, 1988 |
| Reign ended | July 15, 2003 |
| Predecessor | John Krol |
| Successor | Justin Francis Rigali |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Santissimo Redentore e Sant'Alfonso in Via Merulan |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 11, 1949 |
| Consecration | November 24, 1980 by Francis Mugavero |
| Created Cardinal | June 28, 1991 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 17, 1923 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | January 31, 2012 (aged 88) Wynnewood, Pennsylvania |
| Denomination | Catholic |
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| Alma mater | Cathedral College (BA) Pontifical Gregorian University (JCD) Columbia University (MA) St. John's University (JD) |
| Motto | Ecclesia Mater Nostra (The Church, Our Mother) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Anthony Bevilacqua |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Philadelphia (emeritus) |
Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (born June 17, 1923 – died January 31, 2012) was an American cardinal in the Catholic Church. He served as the leader, or archbishop, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1988 to 2003. Before that, Bevilacqua was the bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1987. He also served as an auxiliary bishop (a helper bishop) in the Diocese of Brooklyn from 1980 to 1983. He became a cardinal in 1991.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Anthony Bevilacqua was born on June 17, 1923, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Luigi and Maria Bevilacqua, were immigrants from Italy. Luigi worked as a bricklayer, building with bricks and stones. Anthony had four brothers and six sisters.
His family lived in different places like New Rochelle and Hartford before settling in Woodhaven, Queens. Anthony went to public school and St. Thomas the Apostle School. He also attended Richmond Hill High School.
Later, he studied at Cathedral College in Queens. He was very good at math and science. In 1943, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, he went to the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception to study to become a priest.
Becoming a Priest and Early Work
Anthony Bevilacqua became a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn on June 11, 1949. He was ordained by Bishop Thomas Malloy. His first jobs were as an associate pastor (a helper priest) at two churches in Brooklyn and Long Island.
From 1950 to 1954, he taught at Cathedral College. Then, he went to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. In 1956, he earned a special law degree called a Doctor of Canon Law. This degree is about the laws of the Catholic Church.
When he came back to Brooklyn, he worked for the church's court, called the diocesan tribunal. He also became a chaplain for a group of nuns. He continued his education, earning a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1962.
In 1965, he became the vice-chancellor of the diocese. A chancellor helps manage the church's official records and business. He also taught canon law and started an office to help migrants and refugees in 1971. In 1975, he earned another law degree, a Juris Doctor, from St. John's University. He was even allowed to practice law in courts.
In 1976, he was named an honorary prelate by the Holy See, which is the central government of the Catholic Church. He also became the chancellor of the diocese that year. He taught immigration law at St. John's University from 1977 to 1980.
Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn
On October 7, 1980, Pope John Paul II chose Bevilacqua to be an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Brooklyn. An auxiliary bishop helps the main bishop lead the diocese. He officially became a bishop on November 24, 1980. For his motto as a bishop, he chose Ecclesia Mater Nostra, which means "The Church, our Mother."
Bishop of Pittsburgh
Pope John Paul II then appointed Bevilacqua as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This happened on October 7, 1983. He took over from Bishop Vincent Leonard. As bishop, he was part of a special meeting in 1987. This meeting discussed the role of regular church members, called laity, in the church and the world.
Archbishop of Philadelphia
On December 8, 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed Bevilacqua as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. An archbishop is the main bishop of a large archdiocese. He was officially installed on February 11, 1988. Later, on June 28, 1991, he was named a cardinal-priest.
As archbishop, he worked to help people in need. In 1998, he asked the governor of Pennsylvania to help fund food stamp assistance for immigrants. He also created service centers for Latino and African American Catholics.
Cardinal Bevilacqua was known for visiting many churches in his archdiocese. He was also good with money matters. He hosted a weekly radio show called Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua. This show aired on a local radio station in Philadelphia. In 2002, he was recognized as one of the most influential people in politics in Pennsylvania.
He also served on important committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He led the Committee on Migration from 1983 to 1984. During this time, he visited refugee camps in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Retirement and Death
When Cardinal Bevilacqua turned 75 in June 1998, he offered to retire to Pope John Paul II. However, the Pope asked him to continue his work for a while longer.
In June 2003, when he turned 80, he lost the right to vote for a new pope in a papal conclave. His retirement was finally accepted by the Pope on July 15, 2003. He continued to manage the archdiocese until his successor, Cardinal Justin Rigali, took over on October 7, 2003. After retiring, Bevilacqua lived at his home on the grounds of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
Cardinal Bevilacqua passed away suddenly on January 31, 2012. He was 88 years old and died at his home in Wynnewood.
Viewpoints
In 2000, Cardinal Bevilacqua spoke to the Pennsylvania government. He supported a bill that would pause the use of capital punishment (the death penalty) in the state.
Images for kids
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Coat of arms of Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua
