François-Wolff Ligondé

François-Wolff Ligondé (January 17, 1928 in Les Cayes – April 8, 2013) was a Haitian Roman Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1954, he was named archbishop in 1966 and retired in 2008.[1]

Ligondé was a close ally of President Jean-Claude Duvalier and the uncle of his wife Michèle Bennett.[2] He presided over their "opulent cathedral wedding" in 1980 which was broadcast live to the nation.[3]

In January 1991, Ligondé reportedly "fled into the night clad only in undershorts" when mobs attacked the Port-au-Prince Cathedral during a coup attempt against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He had previously been a critic of Aristide, comparing the government to a Bolshevik dictatorship. This statement was "seen as giving the green light for the coup". Ligondé and other church leaders subsequently went into hiding.[4]

Ligondé died on 8 April 2013.[5]

References
  1. Francois-Wolff Ligonde
  2. Hockstader, Lee (January 9, 1991). "Haitian mob destroys property of coup-maker and church". Washington Post. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  3. "Haiti bishop who married 'Baby Doc' Duvalier dies". The San Diego Union-Tribune. April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  4. Sheppard Jr., Nathaniel (January 13, 1991). "Priest's rise to Haiti's presidency may spur change". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  5. "Haiti - Religion : Mgr François Wolff passed away". Haiti Libre. April 9, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2021.


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