LABASTIDA Y DAVALOS, PELAGIO ANTONIO. — Mexican prelate, b. 21 March 1817 at Zamora (diocese of Mechoacan), d. 1891 at Ocalaco. He attended the Seminary of Morelia. Doctor of law and theology at the National and Pontifical University of Mexico City, he was given by the bishop of Mechoacan the chair of rhetoric, philosophy, canon law, and dogmatic and moral theology in the diocesan seminary, of which he was also rector. In 1855 he was elected bishop of Puebla. For criticizing the anti-Catholic laws promulgated in 1855, he was expelled from Mexico. The exile lasted from 12 May 1856 to 12 Oct. 1863.
Preconized archbishop of Mexico City on 19 March 1863, he returned to his homeland that same year and was one of the three members of the regency formed after Maximilian of Habsburg accepted the Mexican imperial crown. When a conflict arose between the clergy and the French authorities occupying the country, L. left the Council of Regency on 20 Nov. and later protested against the failure to repeal earlier laws authorizing the sale of church property. At the invitation of Pius IX, he left Mexico in Feb. 1867 to be present in Rome at the canonization of the Japanese martyrs. Meanwhile, Maximilian’s empire fell, and L., as a partisan of the Emperor, was again proscribed. He took part in the Vatican Council as a member of the commission on discipline and returned to his see in 1871.
**
