Since Pope Gregory XVI founded the diocese of Montreal in 1836, Archbishop Christian Lépine has become its tenth bishop and eighth archbishop.
Biography
Born: September 18, 1951
Ordained priest: September 7, 1983
Ordained bishop: September 10, 2011
Archbishop of Montreal: March 21, 2012
Archbishop Lépine has extensive experience as a pastor and teacher. Ordained a priest in 1983 at Saint-André-Apôtre Parish, he began his priestly ministry at Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal Parish before going on to study philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1986 to 1989. On his return to Montreal, he was appointed parish assistant at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Parish and pastor of Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal. He remained there until 1996, when he accepted the post of director of the office of Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, then archbishop of Montreal.
In 1998, he was called to Rome, where he served first at the Secretariat of State and then at the Congregation for Divine Worship. He returned to Montreal in 2000 and was appointed director of the Grand Séminaire de Montréal, a post he held until 2006. From 2006 to 2012, he served as pastor of the parishes of Purification de la Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie and Notre-Dame-des-Champs. In addition to these varied roles, he taught philosophy and theology for 20 years at the Grand Séminaire de Montréal.
Ordained a bishop on September 10, 2011, by Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, he was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Family and Youth and director of the diocesan Liturgy Office. On March 21, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named him Archbishop of Montreal.
Coat of Arms
A bishop’s coat of arms is his emblem, expressing the message he wishes to convey.
Archbishop Lépine’s coat of arms is surmounted by a green galero (the ecclesiastical hat), from which ten tassels hang on each side, signifying his rank as archbishop. It rests upon a double-barred processional cross, also characteristic of an archbishop, and upon the pallium.
The pallium, a liturgical vestment, is a circular band of lamb’s wool adorned with black crosses. It evokes Jesus the Good Shepherd, who seeks the lost sheep, carries it on His shoulders and lays down His life for His sheep. A sign of communion with the successor of Peter, it is conferred by the pope on metropolitan archbishops as a sign of shared pastoral responsibility.
The shield is accompanied by a banner bearing the motto he chose as the guiding principle of his life, which expresses the spirit in which he wishes to live his episcopate: “Si Scires Donum Dei” (If you knew the gift of God), taken from the Gospel account of Jesus and the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well (John 4:10).
The shield’s golden field signifies the glory of God and the radiance of His love. A red cross runs across it, recalling the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. At its centre, a radiant sun bears the letters IHS, the monogram of Christ, traditionally read as “Jesus hominum salvator” (Jesus, Saviour of humanity), a reference to the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
On either side of the red cross are:
- The open book, recalling the Holy Bible, the Word of God that the bishop is responsible for teaching. It bears letters of the Greek alphabet, signifying that Jesus is the beginning and the end of all things: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Rev 1:8).
- The flame, representing the Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost, who transforms the faithful for mission and gives strength for witness.
- The star, signifying the Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, Mother and model of the Church.
- The sword of fire, signifying the Archangel St. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God?” He professes the one God and defends and protects the faithful in the battle against Satan and the forces of evil.