{{Short description|Canadian Roman Catholic cardinal (1936–2015)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Jean-Claude Turcotte | honorific-suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal|Archbishop Emeritus of Montreal]] | image = Jean-Claude Turcotte.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal|Montreal]] | province = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal|Montreal]] | metropolis = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal|Montreal]] | diocese = | see = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal|Montreal]] | elected = | appointed = 17 March 1990 | term = | term_start = | quashed = | term_end = 20 March 2012 | predecessor = [[Paul Grégoire]] | opposed = | successor = [[Christian Lépine]] | other_post = [[Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi|Cardinal-Priest of Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi]] <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 24 May 1959 | ordained_by = [[Laurent Morin]] | consecration = 29 June 1982 | consecrated_by = [[Paul Grégoire]] | cardinal = 26 November 1994 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope John Paul II]] | rank = Cardinal-Priest <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|06|26|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada | death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|04|08|1936|06|26|df=yes}} | death_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada | buried = | religion = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal (1982–1990)|Titular Bishop of Suas (1982–1990)|President of the Canadian Episcopal Conference (1997–1999)}} | education = | alma_mater = | motto = {{unbulleted list|''Servir le Seigneur dans la Joie''|("Serve the Lord in joy")}} | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Jean-Claude Turcotte.svg | coat_of_arms_alt = | other = }}{{Infobox cardinal styles | image = Coat of arms of Jean-Claude Turcotte.svg | image_size = 50px | cardinal name = Jean-Claude Turcotte | dipstyle = His Eminence | offstyle = Your Eminence | see = Montreal }} '''Jean-Claude Turcotte''' ({{IPA|fr|ʒɑ̃klod tyʁkɔt}}; 26 June 1936 &ndash; 8 April 2015) was a Canadian [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] who served as the Archbishop of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal]] from 1990 to 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TURCOTTE Card. Jean-Claude |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_turcotte_jc.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=press.vatican.va}}</ref>

== Early life and priesthood == Jean-Claude Turcotte was born on 26 June 1936, one of the seven children of Paul-Émile Turcotte. From 1947 to 1955, Turcotte attended College André-Grasset, then the [[Grand Séminaire de Montréal|Grand Seminaire]]. He graduated from the [[Université de Montréal]] with a degree in [[theology]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/archbishop-of-montreal-cardinal-jean-claude-turcotte-dead-at-78/article23830593/ | title='People's priest' Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte spoke in language of hope | work=The Globe and Mail | date=8 April 2015 | access-date=9 April 2015 | author=Fitterman, Lisa}}</ref>

Turcotte was [[ordained]] as a [[priest]] on 24 May 1959 and undertook further studies in [[Lille]] from 1964 to 1965, earning a diploma in social ministry in 1965.

== Bishop and archbishop == On 14 April 1982, [[Pope John Paul II]] appointed him [[titular bishop]] of Suas and [[auxiliary bishop]] of [[Montreal]]. He was consecrated on 29 June in the [[Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral|Montreal Cathedral]]. Turcotte organized the Montreal leg of the Pope's 1984 visit to Canada. Turcotte was appointed Archbishop of Montreal on 17 March 1990.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

{{Ordination | consecrated by = [[Paul Grégoire|Paul Card. Grégoire]] ([[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal|Montreal]]) | date of consecration = 29 June 1982 | bishop 1 = [[Vital Massé]] (Auxiliary [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint-Jérôme|Saint-Jérôme]] aux.) | consecration date 1 = 8 December 1993 | bishop 2 = [[Neil E. Willard]] (Montreal aux.) | consecration date 2 = 15 August 1995 | bishop 3 = [[André Rivest]] (Montreal aux.) | consecration date 3 = 15 August 1995 | bishop 4 = [[Anthony Mancini (bishop)|Anthony Mancini]] (Montreal aux.) | consecration date 4 = 25 March 1999 | bishop 5 = [[Louis Dicaire]] (Montreal aux.) | consecration date 5 = 25 March 1999 | bishop 6 = [[Luc Cyr]] ([[Roman Catholic Diocese of Valleyfield|Valleyfield]]) | consecration date 6 = 17 June 2001 | bishop 7 = [[Émilius Goulet]] ([[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface|Saint-Boniface]]) | consecration date 7 = 16 September 2001 | bishop 8 = [[André Gazaille]] (Montreal aux.) | consecration date 8 = 25 March 2006 | bishop 9 = [[Lionel Gendron]] (Montreal aux.) | consecration date 9 = 25 March 2006 }}

On 26 November 1994, Pope John Paul II made Turcotte a cardinal, assigning him as a [[Cardinal-Priest]] to [[Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi|Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi]]. Following his elevation, he was named a member of the [[Congregation for the Causes of Saints]], the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]], and the [[Pontifical Council for Social Communications]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

He served as president of the Canadian Episcopal Conference from 1997 to 1999 and participated in [[World Youth Day]]s in [[World Youth Day 1993|1993]], [[World Youth Day 1997|1997]], [[World Youth Day 2000|2000]], and [[World Youth Day 2002|2002]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

Turcotte was known for his work with the poor and he wrote a weekly religion column in the Sunday edition of the ''[[Journal de Montréal]]''. In 1997, he commented on [[Quebec]] being a [[distinct society]].<ref>[http://www.articlearchives.com/government-public-administration/government-bodies-offices/1519066-1.html Cardinal Turcotte on Quebec independence] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428202736/http://www.articlearchives.com/government-public-administration/government-bodies-offices/1519066-1.html |date=28 April 2012 }}</ref>

Turcotte was a voting member ([[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2005|cardinal elector]]) of the [[College of Cardinals]] in the [[Papal conclave, 2005|2005 papal conclave]]. [[Margaret Hebblethwaite]], co-author of the book ''The Next Pope'', identified him as a potential candidate ''[[papabile]]''. Other sources, including the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]], also mentioned him as a long-shot possibility for pope. He was also one of the [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2013|cardinal electors]] who participated in the [[Papal conclave, 2013|2013 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Francis]].<ref>{{cite news | work= Zenit | access-date = 11 October 2019 | title = List of Cardinal Electors | url = https://zenit.org/articles/list-of-cardinal-electors/ |date= 12 March 2013}}</ref>

Nicole Fournier, who led the [[:fr:Accueil Bonneau|Accueil Bonneau]] organization for the homeless, stated that Turcotte "watched over people with a look that was never judgmental, ... (and) supported many social causes, especially those touching the less fortunate, notably the homeless."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/04/17/funeral-today-for-cardinal-jean-claude-turcotte-long-time-archbishop-of-montreal.html|title=Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte remembered at funeral in Montreal {{!}} The Star|work=thestar.com|access-date=18 July 2018|language=en}}</ref> [[John L. Allen Jr.|John Allen]] wrote in the 2002 book ''Conclave'' that Turcotte was seen as a "diamond in the rough, a potentially magnificent leader who is still finding his way."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Conclave: The Politics, Personalities and Process of the Next Papal Election|last=Allen|first=John|date=11 June 2002|publisher=Image|isbn=9780385504539|location=New York|language=en}}</ref> Potential impediments to becoming pope included not being proficient in the [[Italian language]] and his lack of international experience.

== Death == Turcotte died in Montreal on 8 April 2015, at the age of 78.<ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times| access-date= 11 April 2015| date= 8 April 2015| agency= Associated Press| url=http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/world/americas/jean-claude-turcotte-former-archbishop-of-montreal-dies-at-78.html | title= Jean-Claude Turcotte, Former Archbishop of Montreal, Dies at 78 }}</ref>

== Views == === Abortion === In 2007, Turcotte presided over the funeral of Supreme Court Justice [[Antonio Lamer]], who had written the court's opinion in [[Tremblay v. Daigle]] (1989), which removed all restrictions on [[abortion]]. At the funeral, he praised Lamer as "a giant of the law" and a man "who worked a great deal for justice," without directly addressing the abortion ruling.<ref>[http://catholicinsight.com/online/church/biographies/article_776.shtml Antonio Lamer 'liberated' Canada for abortion] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329081326/http://catholicinsight.com/online/church/biographies/article_776.shtml |date=29 March 2009 }}</ref>

On 11 September 2008, Turcotte returned his [[Order of Canada]] insignia (appointed in 1996) in protest of the induction of pro-choice activist [[Henry Morgentaler]] on 1 July 2008. After the Consultative Council for the [[Order of Canada]] did not reconsider the appointment, Turcotte renounced his title as Officer of the Order of Canada and returned his insignia, becoming effective on 1 June 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/cardinal-turcotte-gives-back-order-of-canada-1.748750|title=Cardinal Turcotte gives back Order of Canada|date=11 September 2008 | work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5761 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090606213533/http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5761 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 June 2009 |title=Resignations from the Order of Canada }}</ref>

In a 2009 interview, Turcotte stated, "I can understand that in certain cases, there is almost no other choice than to practice (abortion)," which was viewed as controversial given his previous stance on Morgentaler.<ref>[http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=12980 "I can understand abortion": Montreal cardinal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706091850/http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=12980 |date=6 July 2009 }}</ref>

=== Political ties === In 2004, he criticized statements by former minister [[Sheila Copps]] regarding Turcotte's relationship with [[Pierre Trudeau]].<ref>[http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2004/1101/copps110104.shtml Copps 'facts' denied] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050112152832/http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2004/1101/copps110104.shtml |date=12 January 2005 }}</ref> He was present at Trudeau's [[death and state funeral of Pierre Trudeau|state funeral]].

=== Women's ordination === Turcotte was reportedly favorable to the ordination of women as deacons after a local [[synod]] proposed the idea.<ref>¨[http://natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/1998d/121198/121198i.htm Montreal Catholics vote for women, married men as priests]</ref>

== Brian Boucher controversy == An investigative report commissioned by the church found that Turcotte was among Archdiocese of Montreal officials who failed to act on complaints that priest Brian Boucher was sexually abusing boys. Quebec Superior Court Justice Pepita Capriolo led the inquiry, and the report was released on 25 November 2020.<ref name="montrealreport">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/brian-boucher-montreal-catholic-church-1.5816064|title=Report blames top Montreal Church officials for ignoring complaints about priest who preyed on young boys|first=Benjamin|last=Shingler|publisher=CBC News|date=25 November 2020|access-date=30 November 2020}}</ref> Boucher pleaded guilty to sex abuse charges in January 2019 and received an eight-year prison sentence.<ref name="montrealreport" />

== References == <references />

== External links == {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}

* [[:fr:Accueil Bonneau|Accueil Bonneau]] * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19991104040353/http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=116 Cardinal Turcotte]}} on {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20121204140549/http://www.catholic-pages.com/ catholic-pages.com]}} * [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bturcotte.html Cardinal Turcotte] on [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/ catholic-hierarchy.org] * [http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/lemonde/archives/2005/04/20050402-153018.html Qui succédera à Jean-Paul II?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310203736/http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/lemonde/archives/2005/04/20050402-153018.html |date=10 March 2007 }} ([[Le Canal Nouvelles]], 2 April 2005; in French) * "Declaration by Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, Archbishop of Montreal"[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2008/11/c3640.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609213142/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2008/11/c3640.html |date=9 June 2011 }}, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/cardinal-turcotte-gives-back-order-of-canada-1.748750?ref=rss] {{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Paul Grégoire]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal|Roman Catholic Archbishop of Montreal]]|years=1990–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Christian Lépine]]}} {{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Turcotte, Jean-Claude}} [[Category:2015 deaths]] [[Category:1936 births]] [[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Montreal]] [[Category:Canadian cardinals]] [[Category:Canadian columnists]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II]] [[Category:Members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints]]