Jiří Paďour, Czech Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of České Budějovice, Died at 72

  Religion

Jiří Paďour was born on April 4, 1943, and died on December 11, 2015, in Prachtice.

He was an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Prague from 1996 to 2001, and the Bishop of České Budějovice from 2002–2014.

Paďour graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in 1962, where he majored in acting.

After which he was a member of the Theatre on the Balustrade.

He decided to enroll in the seminary at St. Cyril and Methodius Theological Faculty in Litoměřice in 1970.

In 1975, Jiří Paďour was ordained a priest, followed by two years (before losing state approval of the Communist regime) where he worked as a priest in Marienbad and its surroundings.

He silently entered into the Capuchin Order, on October 4, 1978.

Paďour was elected twice as Provincial of the Capuchin Order in 1991 and 1994.

The Pope John Paul II appointed Jiří as titular bishop and auxiliary bishop of Prague, on 3 December 1996.

On January 11, 1997, his Episcopal Ordination was completed.

He was appointed coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of České Budějovice to Bishop Anthony Liska, on February 23, 2001.

He took over the leadership of the diocese on September 25, 2002.

On 1 March 2014, Pope Francis accepted his resignation for health reasons.

Jiří Paďour passed away at 72 yrs old.