SEGURA Y SÁENZ, PEDRO

Cardinal, archbishop of Toledo and of Seville; b. Carazo, Burgos, Spain, Dec. 4, 1880; d. Madrid, April 8,1957. After studying at the seminary in Burgos and at the Pontifical University in Comillas, he obtained doctorates in philosophy, theology, and Canon Law. Ordained (Nov. 9, 1906), he became a doctoral canon of the cathedral of Valladolid, professor of Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Valladolid, secretary to the archbishop of Valladolid, and in 1916 auxiliary bishop of that see. He was named bishop of Coria-Cáceres (1920), archbishop of burgos (February 1927), archbishop of toledo, primate of Spain, and cardinal (Dec. 18, 1927). He revived an ancient practice of holding councils at Toledo. A man of austere character, he was wont in his pastoral letters to criticize severely modern paganism and impiety. As a convinced monarchist, Segura denounced the Second Republic and lauded King Alfonso XIII in a pastoral letter (April 1931). This caused his expulsion from Spain by the Republican government. After resigning his primatial see (Sept. 26, 1931), Segura was appointed to curial offices in the Vatican. In 1937 he returned to Spain and was given the See of Seville. His relations with the Franco government were never cordial. He particularly opposed the Falange and refused to admit any memorials to the Falangist José Antonio Primo de Rivera (d. 1939) in his churches. He was reputed to be a very influential opponent of collaboration with Nazi Germany during World War II. He was distressed that the Spanish Concordat of 1953 conceded too much liberty to Protestants, and he feared lest the influence of the U.S., growing out of military aid agreements, encourage the spread of Protestantism (see spain).

[i. bastarrika]