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 theā€¦