Peter Doi

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Peter Doi

Role / Field:

Japanese Catholic Cardinal who served as Archbishop of Tokyo and first Japanese cardinal.

Born:

1892-12-22

Died:

1970-02-21

Century / Era:

1892s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Peter Tatsuo Doi (土井 辰雄 Doi Tatsuo) (22 December 1892 – 21 February 1970) was a Japanese prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Tokyo from 1937 until his death in 1970, and was made a cardinal in 1960. Doi Tatsuo was born in Sendai. He was baptized at the age of nine, on 21 April 1902, with the baptismal name of Peter. He studied at the seminary in Sendai and the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.

Career & Major Achievements

Doi was ordained to the priesthood on 1 May 1921. Doi then did pastoral work in Sendai until 1934, when he was made Secretary of the Apostolic Delegation to Japan. On 2 December 1937, Doi was appointed Archbishop of Tokyo by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on 13 February 1938 from Archbishop Jean-Alexis Chambon, MEP, with Bishops Paul Aijiro Yamaguchi and Marie-Joseph Lemieux serving as co-consecrators. During World War II, Doi served as executive director of the National Catholic Central Committee.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was Apostolic Administrator of Yokohama from 1945 to 1947. Pope John XXIII created him Cardinal Priest of S. Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana in the consistory of 28 March 1960. Doi, hoped by the Vatican to enliven the Church in Japan, thus became the first Japanese member of the College of Cardinals. A celebration of this event was held at the St. Ignatius church in Tokyo, a church which was dedicated by Doi in 1949. He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and was later one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1963 papal conclave that selected Pope Paul VI.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1892 (1892-12-22): Birth of Peter Doi — Japanese Catholic Cardinal who served as Archbishop of Tokyo and first Japanese cardinal.
2. 1902: 1902 Milestone — He was baptized at the age of nine, on 21 April 1902, with the baptismal name of Peter.
3. 1921: 1921 Milestone — Doi was ordained to the priesthood on 1 May 1921.
4. 1934: 1934 Milestone — Doi then did pastoral work in Sendai until 1934, when he was made Secretary of the Apostolic Delegation to Japan.
5. 1937: 1937 Milestone — He served as Archbishop of Tokyo from 1937 until his death in 1970, and was made a cardinal in 1960.
6. 1938: 1938 Milestone — He received his episcopal consecration on 13 February 1938 from Archbishop Jean-Alexis Chambon, MEP, with Bishops Paul Aijiro Yamaguchi and Marie-Joseph Lemieux serving as co-consecrators.
7. 1945: 1945 Milestone — He was Apostolic Administrator of Yokohama from 1945 to 1947.
8. 1949: 1949 Milestone — Ignatius church in Tokyo, a church which was dedicated by Doi in 1949.
9. 1960: 1960 Milestone — Antonio da Padova in Via Merulana in the consistory of 28 March 1960.
10. 1962: 1962 Milestone — He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and was later one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1963 papal conclave that selected Pope Paul VI.
11. 1970 (1970-02-21): Passing & Historical Legacy — Peter Doi passed away on 1970-02-21, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Peter Doi

True or False: “Cardinal Doi was appointed Archbishop of Tokyo immediately after the conclusion of World War II.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was appointed Archbishop of Tokyo on December 2, 1937, well before the end of World War II.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Peter Doi