Edward Clancy (cardinal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Edward Clancy AC |
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| Cardinal-Archbishop Emeritus of Sydney | |
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| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney |
| Province | Sydney |
| See | Sydney |
| Appointed | 12 April 1983 |
| Enthroned | 27 April 1983 |
| Reign ended | 26 March 2001 |
| Predecessor | James Darcy Freeman |
| Successor | George Pell |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Vallicella |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 23 July 1949 |
| Consecration | 19 January 1974 by James Darcy Freeman |
| Created Cardinal | 28 June 1988 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Edward Bede Clancy |
| Born | 13 December 1923 Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 3 August 2014 (aged 90) Randwick, Sydney, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
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| Motto | Fides mundum vincit ("Faith conquers the world") |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Edward Clancy |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Sydney (emeritus) |
Edward Bede Clancy was an important Australian Catholic leader. He was a bishop and later a cardinal. From 1983 to 2001, he served as the seventh Catholic Archbishop of Sydney. In 1988, he was made a Cardinal-Priest.
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Becoming a Priest
Edward Clancy was born in Lithgow, New South Wales, on December 13, 1923. From a young age, he knew he wanted to be a priest. He even used to pretend to celebrate Mass when he was a child!
He finished his studies at Marist Brothers College, Parramatta. In 1949, he became a priest. Interestingly, another future Australian cardinal, Edward Cassidy, was ordained on the very same day.
Early Church Roles
After becoming a priest, Edward Clancy continued his education. He earned special degrees in theology, which is the study of religious faith. He later became a teacher and a chaplain at the University of Sydney. A chaplain is like a spiritual guide for students.
He also worked as an official spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Sydney. This made him quite well-known. In 1974, he was named an Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney. An auxiliary bishop helps the main bishop of an area.
Archbishop and Cardinal
In 1978, Edward Clancy was appointed the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn. People in Canberra and Goulburn liked him a lot. They found him friendly and easy to talk to. He was also very supportive of his community and the priests working with him. He had a great connection with young people there.
In 1983, he became the Archbishop of Sydney. Then, in 1988, he was made a Cardinal-Priest. This is a very high rank in the Catholic Church, just below the Pope. He also became the chancellor of the Australian Catholic University in 1992.
Special Events in Sydney
During his time as Archbishop of Sydney, a very special event happened. In 1995, Pope John Paul II visited Australia. He came to beatify Mother Mary MacKillop. This means she was declared "Blessed" by the Church. It was a huge event held at the Royal Randwick Racecourse. The Pope even mentioned Cardinal Clancy in his speech!
Major work was also done on St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, during his leadership. In 1999, a large new pipe organ was built. In the year 2000, the tall spires of the cathedral were finally finished.
Edward Clancy also oversaw changes to the seminary. A seminary is a school where people study to become priests. The old seminary at Manly was closed. A new one, called the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, was opened in Homebush, Sydney.
Retirement and Passing
Cardinal Clancy retired as Archbishop of Sydney in 2001. He was followed by Archbishop George Pell.
After his retirement, Cardinal Clancy's health slowly declined. He passed away on August 3, 2014, at the age of 90. He died at a nursing home in Randwick, Sydney.
