Jéan Hamer was born on 1 June 1916 in Brussels. After studies in Malone and
Brussels, he joined the Dominican Order in September 1934 and received the name of Jérôme. He studied at the Dominican Studium Generale, La Sarte and Louvain. He was
drafted into military service, fought in WO II, and was 3 months in prison (1940). He was ordained a priest on 3 August 1941.
After studies at the University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland, rewarded with the title Magister Theologiae, he was professor at the University of Fribourg, 1944-1962; Pontifical Angelicum Athenaeum, Rome, 1952-1953; Studium Generale, La Sarte; Dominican faculty of Saulchoir, France; rector, 1956-1962.

Secretary general of studies of his order and general assistant for French Dominican provinces, 1962-1966. Expert at the secretariat for Christian Unity of the II Vatican Council, 1962-1965. Secretary adjunct of the secretariat for Christian Unity, 1966-1969; secretary, April 12, 1969.

He was elected titular archbishop of Lorium and appointed secretary of the S.C. for Doctrine of Faith, June 14, 1973. Consecrated, June 29, 1973, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope Paul VI, assisted by Agostino Casaroli, titular archbishop of Cartago, secretary of the S.C. for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, and by Bernardin Gantin, former archbishop of Cotonou, secretary of the S.C. for the Evangelization of Peoples. Attended the III General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Puebla, México, January 27 to February 13, 1979. Pro-prefect of the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes, April 8, 1984.

He was created cardinal deacon in the consistory of May 25, 1985; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Saba, May 25, 1985. Prefect of the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes, May 27, 1985. Attended the II Extraordinary Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 24 to December 8, 1985; VII Ordinary Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1-30, 1987. Papal delegate to the IX centennial celebration of the monastery of St. John Evangelist, Patmos and Athens, Greece, September 23-27, 1988. Attended the VIII Ordinary Assembly the of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990. Attended the Special Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991. Resigned prefecture, January 21, 1992. Opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevated pro illa vice to title, January 29, 1996. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when he turned 80 years old, June 1, 1996.

He died on 2 December 1996 by a heart attack in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, and was buried on the Campo Verano cemetery, Rome.

Source: The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church; biographies.

Philately

Jéan Jérôme Hamer, the last on the second row.

Vatican City 1985. KimCover PW 431.

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