Achille Liènart

From Kaiserreich

Achille Gustave Louis Joseph Liénart (born in Lille, Commune of France, on February 7 1884) is a french Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

Biography

Early Life

Achille Liènart was born in Lille, Commune of France, on February 7 1884; he studied at College Saint-Joseph, the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, the Institut Catholique de Paris, Collège de Sorbonne, and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

Liènart was ordained to the priesthood on June 29 1907 and then taught at firs at the Seminary of Cambrai until 1910 and then at Lille until 1914. During the Weltkrieg Liénart served as a chaplain to the French Army and after that he dedicated himself to pastoral work in his hometown from 1919 to 1928.

Career in the Chuch

Pope Pius XI appointed Liènart Bishop of Lille on October 6 1928 and elevated him to cardinal on June 30 1930.

Liénart is seen as a leading liberal voice and he has often expressed his support for social reforms and trade unionism. For his opinions he is tolerated by the French Syndicalist government whereas the more conservative cardinals in Rome oppose him.