Mercier, Désire Joseph (1851-1926)

Belgian cardinal. He became archbishop of Malines and primate of Belgium in1906 and cardinal in 1907. He was a leader of the modern revival of Thomism (the philosophical method of Thomas Aquinas).

Mercier was born in Braine-l'Alleud, Brabant. Educated at Malines, college of St Rombaud, Petit Seminaire, and Grand Seminaire, he was ordained priest in 1874, when at Louvain University. In 1877 he was recalled to teach at Malines, and in 1882 attached to the faculty of theology at Louvain. After visiting Pope Leo XIII in Rome he was placed at the head of an institute of Thomistic philosophy, endowed by that pope.

During the German occupation of Belgium in World War I he urged Belgians to be loyal only to the Belgian government, provoking the wrath of the German authorities. Later he published an Appeal to all Christian People which led to the ‘Malines conversations’ with representatives of the Anglican Church 1923-24.