exclamation

Important notice: To continue serving our valued readers during the postal disruption, complete unrestricted access to the digital edition is available at no extra cost. This will ensure uninterrupted digital access to your copies. Click here to view the digital edition, or learn more.

Vatican II Bishop De Roo passes

By 
  • February 3, 2022

Bishop Remi De Roo, the former bishop of Victoria who was the world’s youngest bishop when he was appointed in 1962 at age 38 by Pope John XXIII, died Feb. 1. He was 97.

Bishop De Roo was the last surviving bishop who participated in all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

Known as a social justice advocate, he served for a period as chair of the Canadian bishops’ conference’s social justice committee and often spoke up for economic justice in public policy making.

His 37 years as bishop of Victoria were not without controversy, including his role in a complex land investment deal in Washington state for which his successor, Bishop Raymond Roussin, accused him of financial mismanagement. The diocese eventually raised $13 million to pay off the debt, and Bishop De Roo was vindicated of any criminal wrongdoing by a Washington court.

The bishop retired in 1999 at the age of 75.

Funeral arrangements are to follow.

Tagged under:

Related items

More in this category: « Bishops challenged to condemn Church vaccine mandates Protect ‘messy spirit’ of Ukraine’s democracy »

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE