Bernardin Gantin
Catholic cardinal
Died when: 86 years 5 days (1032 months)Star Sign: Taurus
Bernardin Gantin (8 May 1922 – 13 May 2008) was a Beninese prelate of the Catholic Church who held senior positions in the Roman Curia for twenty years and the highest position in the College of Cardinals for nine years.
His prominence in the hierarchy of the Church was unprecedented for an African and has been equaled by few non-Italians.
He began his career in his native country first as an auxiliary bishop and then as archbishop of Cotonou.In 1971 he began his thirty-year career in the Curia.
After he had spent several years in the role of senior assistant, he held a series of senior positions as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Bishops Pope Paul VI made him a cardinal in 1977, Pope John Paul II promoted him to the rank of cardinal bishop in 1986, and his peers elected him dean, the highest office in the College of Cardinals, in 1993.
He retired to Benin when he turned 80.
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