By John-Henry Westen
MONTREAL, August 27, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – His Eminence Édouard Cardinal Gagnon, P.S.S., died Saturday August 25 at the age of 89 in Montreal. Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition told LifeSiteNews.com that the Cardinal was a great friend to the pro-life movement in Canada.
Born January 15, 1918 in Port-Daniel, Quebec, he was ordained a priest on August 15, 1940 and consecrated Bishop of Saint-Paul on February 19, 1969. Three years after his appointment as Bishop of Saint Paul, he was called to Rome to work in the Vatican. He was appointed as the first President of the Pontifical Council for the Family and more recently as President of the Pontifical Council for Eucharistic Congresses. Pope John Paul II appointed him to the College of Cardinals in 1985.
Hughes recalled that Cardinal Gagnon was a faithful and holy man who was exceptionally helpful to the pro-life movement. “Especially in conveying our concerns to Rome,” said Hughes. Hughes recalled how much Cardinal Gagnon “admired the courage and the zeal of the pro-life activists he had met.” Hughes told LifeSiteNews.com, “the Cardinal said we were constantly in his prayers, and I feel we’re still in his prayers.”