Thomas Williams (cardinal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Thomas Williams ONZ ChStJ |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington | |
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Williams in 2011
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| Archdiocese | Wellington |
| Appointed | 30 October 1979 |
| Enthroned | 20 December 1979 |
| Reign ended | 21 March 2005 |
| Predecessor | Reginald Delargey |
| Successor | John Dew |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Gesù Divin Maestro alla Pineta Sacchetti |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 December 1959 |
| Consecration | 20 December 1979 by Owen Snedden |
| Created Cardinal | 2 February 1983 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1930 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Died | 22 December 2023 (aged 93) Waikanae, New Zealand |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post | Ordinary of the Military Ordinariate of New Zealand (1995–2005) |
| Motto | Unity in Christ |
| Coat of arms |  |
Thomas Stafford Williams (20 March 1930 – 22 December 2023) was an important leader in the Catholic Church in New Zealand. He was a Cardinal and served as the fifth Archbishop of Wellington until he retired in 2005.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Williams was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He went to several schools, including Holy Cross Primary School and St. Patrick's College, Wellington. He studied at Victoria University College and earned a degree in business. For some years, he worked as an accountant.
During his studies, he was very active in the Catholic Youth Movement. He even worked full-time for the movement for a while. In 1954, he decided to study to become a priest. He went to Holy Cross College in Mosgiel.
Studying in Rome
In 1956, Thomas Williams went to Rome, Italy, to continue his studies. He attended the Pontifical Urban University. There, he earned a special degree in theology. He became a priest on 20 December 1959. Later, he also earned a degree in social sciences from University College Dublin.
Becoming a Priest
After becoming a priest, Williams returned to Wellington. He worked as an assistant pastor. He also directed the Catholic Enquiry Centre. He then volunteered to be a missionary in Samoa. He served as a parish priest there for five years.
In 1963, he came back to New Zealand. He became a parish priest in Palmerston North for two years. After that, he spent four years again as the Director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre in Wellington. In 1971, he went back to Samoa. He returned to New Zealand in 1976. He celebrated 60 years as a priest in December 2019.
Leading the Church
On 20 December 1979, Thomas Williams became the Archbishop of Wellington. This was exactly 20 years after he became a priest. He took over after the death of Reginald Cardinal Delargey.
Becoming a Cardinal
On 2 February 1983, Pope John Paul II made him a Cardinal. This is a very high rank in the Catholic Church. As a cardinal, he was given a special church in Rome called Jesus the Divine Teacher at Pineta Sacchetti.
| Styles of Thomas Williams |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Wellington (emeritus) |
In 1995, he was also made the Military Ordinary. This meant he was responsible for the spiritual care of Catholic members of the armed forces in New Zealand. In 2000, he received New Zealand's highest civilian honor. He was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand.
His Views and Public Role
Cardinal Williams often spoke about important social issues. He shared his views on new laws being discussed in New Zealand. He also spoke out against the growth of casinos. He believed it was important to protect the moral values of society.
Later Years and Retirement
In 2005, Cardinal Williams was one of the cardinal electors who helped choose the new Pope. This meeting is called a papal conclave. They elected Pope Benedict XVI.
On 21 March 2005, he retired as Archbishop of Wellington. He was 75 years old. John Dew took over his role. In his retirement, Cardinal Williams lived in a village in Waikanae. He passed away there on 22 December 2023, at the age of 93.
Selected Works
- In his own words: a tribute to Cardinal Thomas Williams. ISBN: 0-86469-476-8
See also
In Spanish: Thomas Stafford Williams para niños
