Willibrord van Os
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Willibrord van Os | |
|---|---|
| Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht | |
| Church | Old Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Utrecht |
| In office | 1814–1825 |
| Predecessor | Johannes Jacobus van Rhijn |
| Successor | Johannes van Santen |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 24 April 1814 by Gisbertus de Jong |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 28 February 1825 |
Willibrord van Os served as the thirteenth Archbishop of Utrecht from 1814 to 1825.
Before serving as Archbishop of Utrecht, van Os served as grand vicar of the Archbishop of Utrecht.
After the death of Archbishop Johannes Jacobus van Rhijn, King Louis Bonaparte forbade the Chapter of Utrecht to elect a successor. After Louis’ resignation in 1810, the kingdom was annexed to the French Empire, and his brother, Napoleon, visited Utrecht in 1811. According to C.B. Moss, van Os met Napoleon and resisted the emperor’s plan to confiscate the revenues of the Church.[1] Neale writes: “He boldly and resolutely withstood the man to whose iron will Pius VII had yielded.” [2]
