Bernard Yago | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop Emeritus of Abidjan | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Abidjan |
| See | Abidjan |
| Appointed | 5 April 1960 |
| Term ended | 19 December 1994 |
| Predecessor | Jean-Baptiste Boivin |
| Successor | Bernard Agré |
| Other post | Cardinal-Priest of San Crisogono (1983-97) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1 May 1947 |
| Consecration | 8 May 1960 by Pope John XXIII |
| Created cardinal | 2 February 1983 byPope John Paul II |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bernard Yago July 1916 Pass,Côte d'Ivoire |
| Died | 5 October 1997 (aged 81) Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire |
| Alma mater | Institut Catholique de Paris |
| Motto | Ut omnes Unum sint |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Bernard Yago | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Abidjan (emeritus) |
Bernard Yago (July 1916 – 5 October 1997) was anIvorian Catholic prelate who served asArchbishop of Abidjan from 1960 to 1994.[1] He was made acardinal in 1983.
Bernard Yago was born inPass,Yopougon, and studied at theseminary inAbidjan before beingordained to thepriesthood on 1 May 1947, the second African priest to do so afterRene Kouassi.[2] He then served as aprofessor at theMinor Seminary ofBingerville and as director of the Pre-Seminary École de Petit Clerics until 1956, whence he beganpastoral work in Abidjan until 1957. Yago furthered his studies at theCatholic Institute ofParis from 1957 to 1959. Upon his return toCôte d'Ivoire, he was Counselor ofCatholic Action in Abidjan from until 1960.
On 5 April 1960, Yago was appointedArchbishop of Abidjan byPope John XXIII. He received hisepiscopal consecration on the following 8 May from Pope John himself, with Bishops Napoléon-Alexandre Labrie,CIM andFulton John Sheen serving asco-consecrators, inSt. Peter's Basilica. Yago attended theSecond Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and sat on the Council'sCentral Preparatory Commission.
Pope John Paul II made himCardinal-Priest ofSan Crisogono in theconsistory of 2 February 1983.[3] Yago, who was the first cardinal from Côte d'Ivoire, resigned his post as Archbishop on 19 December 1994, after 34 years. He lost the right to participate in apapal conclave upon reaching the age of eighty in July 1996.
Cardinal Yago died in Abidjan at age 81.[3] He is buried in themetropolitancathedral of Abidjan.
Yago was one of the only clergy in Côte d'Ivoire who openly opposed the construction of the gargantuanbasilica, modeled onSt. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, built by the former presidentFélix Houphouët-Boigny in his home village ofYamoussoukro because of the enormous waste of hundreds of millions of dollars, and attempted to persuade Pope John Paul II from consecrating it during his visit to the country.[4]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Archbishop of Abidjan 1960–1994 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| Other | |
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