Gaspard Mermillod
Encyclopedia
Gaspard Mermillod was a Swiss Bishop of Lausanne
and Cardinal
.
, Switzerland; became a priest in 1847, and was soon after a curate
in Geneva
, where he established two periodicals: L'observateur Catholique and Les Annales Catholiques. In 1857 he became parish priest of Geneva and at the same time Vicar-General of the Bishop of Lausanne for the canton of Geneva. The church of Notre-Dame was built by him from 1851 to 1859.
In 1864 he became titular Bishop of Hebron, and auxiliary of the Bishop of Lausanne for the canton of Geneva, with residence at Geneva. He was especially active for Catholic education, founding with Marie de Sales Chappuis
the female Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales at Troyes
for the protection of poor working girls.
When the Holy See made him independent Administrator of Geneva, the Radical Government of the canton protested, and a long and serious conflict ensued. He was at first forbidden to exercise any episcopal functions whatever, and later was declared deposed even as regarded his functions as a parish-priest. When the Bishop of Lausanne renounced unconditionally the title of the See of Geneva, the pope appointed Mermillod to be Vicar-Apostolic of Geneva. The City Council, then, caused his expulsion from Switzerland, whereupon he repaired to Ferney, in French territory, from which place he governed his diocese as best he could.
At the cessation of the religious conflict Pope Leo XIII
made the newly elected Bishop of Lausanne also Bishop of Geneva, without, however, depriving Mermillod of his office. Mermillod could return to Switzerland only after the death of the bishop whose successor he became. The conflict was, however, by no means at an end, for the canton of Geneva refused to recognize him as bishop, and normal relations were resumed only when Mermillod became Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo in 1890.
He founded in 1885 the "Union Catholique d'études sociales et économiques".
Bishop of Lausanne
The Bishop of Lausanne was a Prince-Bishop of the Holy Roman Empire and the Ordinary of the diocese of Lausanne, Switzerland .Bern secularized the bishopric in 1536....
and Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
.
Life
He studied at the Jesuit College at FribourgFribourg
Fribourg is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland...
, Switzerland; became a priest in 1847, and was soon after a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, where he established two periodicals: L'observateur Catholique and Les Annales Catholiques. In 1857 he became parish priest of Geneva and at the same time Vicar-General of the Bishop of Lausanne for the canton of Geneva. The church of Notre-Dame was built by him from 1851 to 1859.
In 1864 he became titular Bishop of Hebron, and auxiliary of the Bishop of Lausanne for the canton of Geneva, with residence at Geneva. He was especially active for Catholic education, founding with Marie de Sales Chappuis
Marie de Sales Chappuis
Venerable Marie de Sales Chappuis was a French Catholic Salesian, a leader in the...
the female Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales at Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
for the protection of poor working girls.
When the Holy See made him independent Administrator of Geneva, the Radical Government of the canton protested, and a long and serious conflict ensued. He was at first forbidden to exercise any episcopal functions whatever, and later was declared deposed even as regarded his functions as a parish-priest. When the Bishop of Lausanne renounced unconditionally the title of the See of Geneva, the pope appointed Mermillod to be Vicar-Apostolic of Geneva. The City Council, then, caused his expulsion from Switzerland, whereupon he repaired to Ferney, in French territory, from which place he governed his diocese as best he could.
At the cessation of the religious conflict Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
made the newly elected Bishop of Lausanne also Bishop of Geneva, without, however, depriving Mermillod of his office. Mermillod could return to Switzerland only after the death of the bishop whose successor he became. The conflict was, however, by no means at an end, for the canton of Geneva refused to recognize him as bishop, and normal relations were resumed only when Mermillod became Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo in 1890.
He founded in 1885 the "Union Catholique d'études sociales et économiques".