Jean Margéot
Mauritian cardinal (1916–2009)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jean Margéot (3 February 1916 – 17 July 2009) was a Mauritian Roman Catholic priest, bishop and cardinal.
Jean Margéot | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Port-Louis | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Port-Louis |
| See | Port-Louis |
| Appointed | 6 February 1969 |
| Term ended | 15 February 1993 |
| Predecessor | Daniel Liston |
| Successor | Maurice Piat |
| Other post | Cardinal-Priest of San Gabriele Arcangelo all'Acqua Traversa (1988-2009) |
| Previous post | President of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean (1986-89) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 17 December 1938 by Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani |
| Consecration | 4 May 1969 by Paolo Mosconi |
Created cardinal | 25 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jean Margéot 3 February 1916 |
| Died | 17 July 2009 (aged 93) Filles de Marie Convent, Bonne-Terre, Vacoas, Mauritius |
| Buried | Port-Louis Cathedral |
| Parents | Joseph
Margéot Marie Harel |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Gregorian University |
| Motto | Non ministrari sed ministrare |
Education
A native of Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius, Jean Margéot attended Collège Père Laval before attending the Royal College Curepipe. He travelled to Rome for further religious studies. Margéot was ordained a priest on 17 December 1938 at Basilica Saint-Jean-de-Latran in Rome.[1]
Priesthood in Mauritius
He was consecrated as Bishop of the Diocese of Port-Louis on 4 May 1969 and served until 15 February, 1993. He was President of the Conférence Episcopale de l'Océan Indien from 1986–1989.
Elevation to rank of Cardinal
Margéot was named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988 becoming Cardinal-Priest of San Gabriele Arcangelo all'Acqua Traversa, the first cardinal from Mauritius. Following his death in 2009 at the age of 93, Margéot was lauded by Pope Benedict XVI in a public statement.
Contribution to society
Following the 1968 Mauritian riots Jean Margéot worked to reconcile the racial and religious tensions which existed at the time of the island's Independence.[2] In the 1960s he was the founder of Action Familiale which assisted in managing rising population growth-rate.[3] In more recent times Cardinal Jean Margéot's main contributions have been the holistic training of clergy and his followers.[4] He is also credited for appeasing public anger during the 1999 Mauritian riots following the murder in custody of Kaya (Mauritian musician).[5] Pope Benedict paid tribute to Margéot especially for having promoted the importance of the family in a stable society.[6]
Publications
Legacy
A period of national mourning was announced throughout Mauritius and sporting events were suspended when Cardinal Jean Margéot died.[9] In recognition of the contribution of Cardinal Jean Margéot a new training institute was named Institut Cardinal Jean Margéot in 2009.[10] It specialises in Catholic education and is located at Maison de Carné along Célicourt Antelme street in Rose Hill.[11] The main bus terminal of Beau Bassin-Rose Hill was also named Place Cardinal Jean Margéot in honour of the high priest.[12][13]
