Bourne, Francis

BOURNE, FRANCIS. - Cardinal, b. 23 March 1861 at Clapham, a suburb of London, d. 1 January 1935 in London. He studied theology at the college of St. Sulpice in Paris and at the University of Louvain, where he took his degree. Ordained a priest in 1884, he exercised the pastoral ministry in a parish for five years. He then founded the diocesan seminary of Wonersh, and held its rectorship until 1898, also teaching moral theology and Sacred Scripture there. In 1896 he was appointed coadjutor of the bishop of Southwark, and the following year, upon the death of the incumbent, Msgr. Coffin, he succeeded him. He distinguished himself in the direction of the diocese above all through various initiatives of a social character and through his particular care for Catholic youth associations. His assiduous work soon drew the attention of his superiors, and in August 1903 he was transferred to the archiepiscopal see of Westminster. In this new see as well he gave proof of his excellent qualities. In 1908 he organized the international eucharistic congress in London. In 1910 he consecrated the new cathedral of Westminster. Deservedly, therefore, Pius X, in the Consistory of 27 November 1911, created him cardinal of the title of St. Pudentiana. During the First World War he went several times among the troops on the western front. In 1931 he was at Rouen as pontifical legate on the occasion of the centenary of St. Joan of Arc.

Silvio Furlani