Joseph Laurent Philippe

Joseph Laurent Philippe S.C.I. (3 April 1877 – 21 October 1956) was Bishop of Luxembourg from 1935 to 1956.

Life

Born in Rollingergrund in 1877, Joseph Laurent Philippe was ordained a priest on 28 May 1904. On 20 January 1926 he was made Superior general of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

His time in office saw the expansion of the cathedral from 1935 to 1938 and the German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II. A third of the churches and chapels in the diocese were destroyed in the war, especially from 1944 to 1945. Personally, Philippe did not confront the German occupiers, so as not to endanger religious and the activity of the church, which could already only exercise its functions to a limited extent.

After the liberation of Luxembourg, Philippe set out rebuilding the church institutions. From 14 May 1949, he was assisted by a coadjutor bishop, in the form of Léon Lommel.

He died in Luxembourg city in 1956, and was succeeded by Lommel.