Johannes Willebrands, 96; Catholic Cardinal Worked for Unity

Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, a key figure in the Roman Catholic Church’s efforts to improve relations with other Christians and Jews, has died. He was 96.

Willebrands died Tuesday night, the Dutch Catholic Church announced Wednesday. The cause of death was not reported.

As president of the Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, Willebrands long sought to improve relations between the faiths. He was also mentioned as a possible candidate for the papacy at the conclaves of 1978 after the deaths of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul I.

In the 1980s, Willebrands called for more Jewish teachers at Catholic theological institutes to expand the study of Judaism.

He was known at the Vatican as “The Flying Dutchman” for his travels to increase Christian unity.

He was named president of the Vatican’s Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity in 1969 and held the post 20 years. The secretariat was renamed the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

In a letter to Dutch Cardinal Adrianus Simonis, Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende described Willebrands as “a tireless bridge builder” among Catholics, other Christians and Jews.

Born in Bovenkarspel, Netherlands, Willebrands was one of nine children of an auctioneer. Willebrands became a priest in 1934. Considered a gifted student, he was sent to Rome to study at the Angelicum Pontifical University. He was named a bishop in 1964 by Pope Paul VI.

Willebrands served as archbishop of Utrecht from 1975 to 1983. During that time, Dutch Catholics struggled with a growing rift between conservatives and liberals and an increase in secularization.

After retiring from that position, he returned to Rome, where he continued to serve as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity until his 80th birthday.

His health failing, Willebrands moved in 1997 to a convent in Denekamp in the eastern Netherlands, where Franciscan nuns cared for him until his death.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.