Philip Hannan

Philip Hannan (May 30, 1913 - Present) is a former archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans (Sep. 29, 1965 - Dec. 6, 1988).

Biography.

Ordination.

Philip Matthew Hannan was born in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 1913.

He attended St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, the Sulpician Seminary, and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. His high school years were spent at St. John's College High School in NW Washington, DC. He was a seminarian at the Old North American College in Rome from 1936 to 1939, where he personally witnessed the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany. He would later write a biographical account, Rome: Living under the Axis, detailing his experiences in Rome. He was ordained on Dec. 8, 1939.

He returned to the United States and spent the next two years as an assistant priest at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

World War II.

In 1942, Hannan enlisted in the United States Army, where he served as a chaplain to the 82nd Airborne Division. He parachuted into Europe with the rest of the division and ministered to the paratroopers during Ardennes Offensive. He was with American soldiers during the liberation of a concentration camp. Hannan was briefly pastor of the Cologne Cathedral during the American occupation of Germany.

Washington D.C.

He returned to the United States and served as administrator in the Baltimore-Washington Archdiocese, and was given the title Monsignor in 1952. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Washington Archdiocese on Jun. 16, 1956, where served for nine years. At this time, he became acquainted with several prominent politicians, especially the Kennedy family. He gave the eulogy at President John Kennedy's state funeral.

Hannan was part of the U.S. delegation to the Second Vatican Council in 1965, where he served as a press officer.

Archbishop of New Orleans.

He was appointed as the eleventh Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans on Sep. 29, 1965, succeeding Archbishop John Cardinal Cody. He moved to New Orleans only weeks after Hurricane Betsy hit the city, and became a spiritual leader during the rebuilding of both the city and the archdiocese.

He presided over the New Orleans archdiocese during a time of great change. The Second Vatican Council concluded on Dec. 8, 1965, and Hannan led the effort to implement the Vatican's policies of reform within the archdiocese. At the same time, the demographics of the entire city was changing, as Catholic whites moved to the suburbs, while Orleans Parish became increasingly Protestant. New churches and parishes were being built throughout the city, while attendance in inner-city churches declined.

Hannan was archbishop when Pope John Paul II made his state visit to New Orleans between Sep. 11 and Sep 13, 1987, the first ever Papal Visit to the city. Hannan was the Pontiff's personal guide throughout his three day tour of the city.

Archbishop Hannan retired a year later, on Dec. 6, 1988, and was succeeded by Archbishop Francis Schulte.

Legacy.

Hannan was the archbishop of New Orleans for over thirty years, during which he became one the city's most recognized and popular residents, thought to come in a close second to famed author Anne Rice. He remains an influential spiritual figure in the city. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he continues to help in the effort to revive the city, by both inspiring residents spiritually and pitching in to the clean-up effort physically.

References.

General References.

• Hannan, Philip. Rome: Living Under the Axis. May 2003. ISBN 1-891903-32-2.

• Nolan, Charles E. A History of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. "The Post-Vatican II Years 1965-1989". May 2001.

Further Reading.

• Finney, Peter. Clarion Herald. "Archbishop Hannan credits active aging to 'good genes'". Nov. 25, 1999.

• Finney, Peter. Clarion Herald. "Abp. Hannan, 'Bearer of the Eucharist,' celebrates 60 years". Dec. 23, 1999.