Ireland's Residential Cardinals (Part X)

Desmond Cardinal Connell

Birth

March 24, 1926, Phibsboro, Ireland.

Education

Belvedere College Dublin; Holy Cross College (Diocesan Seminary), Dublin; University College, Dublin (bachelor of arts and master of arts); Seminary of Maynooth, Maynooth (theology); Louvain University, Louvain, Belgium (doctorate in philosophy).

Pre-Episcopal Career

Ordained, May 19, 1951. Further studies, Louvain, 1951-1953. Chaplain to three communities of contemplative sisters, the Poor Clares, Donnybrook, 1953-1955; the Carmelites, Drumcondra, 1955-1966 and the Carmelites in Blackrock from 1966. From 1953, also worked in the Department of Metaphysics, University College Dublin; professor of General Metaphysics, 1972; and elected dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology, 1983; re-elected three years later. For his published work he was awarded the degree D.Litt. by the National University of Ireland, 1981. Member of the Irish Hierarchy's theological commission, and of the Diocesan Committee on Ecumenism. Prelate of honor, August 20, 1984.

Episcopal Career

Elected archbishop of Dublin, January 21, 1988. Consecrated, March 6, 1988, pro-cathedral of St. Mary, Dublin, by Gaetano Alibrandi, titular archbishop of Binda, nuncio in Ireland, assisted by Joseph A. Carroll, titular bishop of Questoriana, vicar general of Dublin, and by Brendan Oliver Comiskey, bishop of Ferns. Elected vice-president of the Irish Episcopal Conference. Attended the VIII Ordinary Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990; I Special Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991; IX Ordinary Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994; II Special Assembly for Europe of the World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 23, 1999.

Cardinalate

Created cardinal priest in the consistory of February 21, 2001; received the red biretta and the title of S. Silvestro in Capite, February 21, 2001. Attended the X Ordinary Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30-October 27, 2001. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese for having reached the age limit, in conformity with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law, April 26, 2004. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned 80 years old, March 24, 2006.