Free Republic

Archbishop Jean Jadot died in his native Belgium on January 21. He was 99.For many readers, the name of Jean Jadot does not ring the proverbial bell. Others, however, are reminded of a different, better time in the recent history of the Catholic Church. For still others, the Jadot name generates negative rather than positive thoughts.Jean Jadot served as apostolic delegate to the United States (the position has since been upgraded to that of nuncio) from 1973 to 1980. During that time, he recommended the appointment of just over 100 new bishops and the assignments of 15 archbishops. Pope Paul...

With family and friends near him, Archbishop Jean Jadot died peacefully at his residence in Brussels Jan. 21. He had received communion and the last rites a couple days before his death. Archbishop Karl-Josef Rauber, the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, had come to his bedside with a special papal blessing from Pope Benedict XVI. He had been Apostolic Delegate to the United States from 1973 to 1980 and at the direction of Pope Paul VI transformed the U.S. Episcopal leadership by appointing pastorally-minded bishops. Jadot’s first episcopal appointee was Bernard Law in Dec. 1973 and his last one was Kenneth...

The leader of American Catholicism's remaking in the image of Pope John Paul II died earlier today in Rome -- Cardinal Pio Laghi was 86. Named apostolic delegate to these shores by the newly-elected Papa Wojtyla in 1980, the suave, charming, perma-tanned figure was widely viewed to have moved the US hierarchy's center from the perceived progressive excess of his post-Conciliar predecessor, Archbishop Jean Jadot, to a place more reflective of the Polish Pope's priority on doctrinal fidelity, with a more Vatican-centric tilt. And, indeed, his impact wasn't limited to the ecclesiastical realm -- yesterday marked a quarter-century since...