In Holland there was general relief when Catholics learned that Willebrands, not a right-winger, was appointed as new archbishop by Pope Paul to replace the now retiring Cardinal Alfrink.

During his 15 years on the Vatican’s ecumenism staff, Johannes Gerardus Maria Willebrands has been a skilled, tireless builder of bridges between Roman Catholics and other Christians. Now he faces the equally delicate task of building bridges within his own church. Even while Willebrands retains the presidency of the…

A year ago Pope Paul introduced the first new conservative, now he has named Johannes Mathias Gijsen, 39, a friend of Simonis, bishop to the diocese of Roermond.

>The seven Roman Catholic bishops of The Netherlands, who presented such a progressive front at the Second Vatican Council, have suffered another breach in their ranks. A year ago Pope Paul introduced the first new conservative into the Dutch hierarchy by appointing Adrianus Simonis to the see of Rotterdam, ignoring…

The appointment by the pope of Simonis as bishop plunged the Vatican and the Dutch church into confrontation once again. Liberals were furious that Paul had bypassed three candidates.

Just a year ago this month, the Dutch Pastoral Council of the Roman Catholic Church voted for a policy statement against compulsory celibacy. During the debates preceding that vote (TIME, Jan. 19, 1970), one of the few voices arguing to preserve the old celibacy rule was a young-looking parish priest…

Dutch Prime Minister Willem Drees formed a new government and appointed not one but two Foreign Ministers.

Foreign Ministers, perennially harassed characters, often wish they could be in two places at once. The Netherlands last week did its best to make the trick possible. When Dutch Prime Minister Willem Drees formed a new government, after a 65-day cabinet crisis, he appointed not one but two Foreign…