Yves Congar
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Yves Marie Joseph Cardinal Congar (April 8, 1904-June 22, 1995) was a French Dominican priest and theologian.
Born in Sedan, in northeast France, in 1904, Congar's home was occupied by the Germans for much of World War I. During this time he kept extensive diaries recording the occupation. He spent several years as a prisoner of war during World War II after being drafted into the French army as a chaplain.
He is one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century on the topic of the Catholic Church and ecumenism and influenced also the thinking of Pope John Paul II from the year 1946 onwards. Very active in the ecumenical movement and the first Catholic to contribute seriously to that scholarly discussion, Congar was once removed from teaching or publishing for a time by the Holy See, during the time of Pope Pius XII.
He published work on wide ranging topics, including Mary, the Eucharist, lay ministry and the Holy Spirit, as well as his diaries from his experiences during Vatican II. He became a cardinal in 1994.
