Charles Journet

Charles Journet (January 26, 1891&mdash;April 15, 1975) was a Swiss Catholic theologian and cardinal.

Born in Geneva, Charles Journet studied at the seminary in Fribourg before being ordained to the priesthood on July 15, 1917. He then did pastoral work in the Diocese of Fribourg until 1924, and there taught at the seminary from 1924 to 1965. Journet was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on August 13, 1946.

On February 15, 1965, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Furnos Minor by Pope Paul VI, and received his episcopal consecration on the following February 20 from Bishop François Charrière, with Bishops Franz von Streng and Louis-Sevérin Haller serving as co-consecrators. In the consistory two days later, on February 22, he was one of the three European theologians elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Paul, becoming Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Portico.

Although he only attended the last session of the Second Vatican Council in 1965, Journet was nevertheless a rather influential figure at the Council. He supported the documents Dignitatis Humanae and Nostra Aetate, and affirmed the Church's traditional teaching on divorce. Journet was a close friend of Jacques Maritain, with whom he founded the theological journal Nova et Vetera in 1926.

A supporter of Socialist leader Miguel Arraes, the Cardinal protested his imprisonment by the Brazilian military in the 1960s. Journet lost the right to participate in any future papal conclave when he reached 80 on January 26, 1971, but served as Protodeacon from the following August 10 until he opted to become Cardinal Priest of the same title on March 5, 1973. His most famous work is considered to be "The Church of the Word Incarnate". He is also seen as the mentor of Cardinal Georges Cottier.

Journet died in Fribourg, at age 84. He is buried in the Chartreuse de la Valsainte, in Gruyères.