Cardinal Joseph Bernardin
In 1982, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin was appointed Archbishop of Chicago and served here as pastor and leader until his death on November 14, 1996. Loved for his gentle, yet persuasive ability to bring opposing sides together, Cardinal Bernardin embodied the virtues of peacebuilding and reconciliation.

Cardinal Bernardin became the most prominent advocate for the "Consistent Ethic of Life", an ethic that challenges us to care for and protect all human beings whether they are terminally ill, financially poor, imprisoned, unborn, or culturally or religiously different than ourselves.

Throughout his life he repeatedly reached out with unwavering compassion and understanding to those abandoned or forgotten, prayed with the sick and dying, and brought healing and reconciliation to victims and offenders alike. A humble servant and "brother of all," Cardinal Bernardin once wrote: "I've been called a reconciler, and in all the places where I've administered – in Charleston, Atlanta, Washington, Cincinnati and [Chicago] – God has used me to help create a climate that is more hospitable, a climate that tends to bring people together. And if I have succeeded in doing that, always as a ministry of the Lord's hand, then that's OK with me."

Cardinal Bernardin wrote in his pastoral letter to youth: "You're a part of the church here and now, and you have a contribution to make." The Peacebuilders Initiative was designed with these words in mind. Shortly before his death from cancer in 1996, Cardinal Bernardin approved the establishment of a center in his name at Catholic Theological Union (CTU), which is the home of the Peacebuilders Initiative. The mission of the Peacebuilders is to encourage young people and to provide opportunities for them to carry on the vision and legacy of "Joseph the Peacebuilder" by becoming leaders of peace and reconciliation within their schools, churches, and local communities. To learn how you can become part of Peacebuilders, click here.