Baum, William Wakefield

1926 - William Wakefield Cardinal Baum was 21st of born November in Dallas, Texas.

1951 - Ordained as a priest and spent his early church career in Missouri.

1961 - Became the privy chamberlain.

1962-1965 - Served as both vice-chancellor of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and as an "expert" at the Second Vatican Council.

1970 - Chancellor of that diocese before being named a bishop himself, heading the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

1973-1980 - Served as Catholic archbishop of Washington DC.

1976 - Baum was named Cardinal-Priest of S. Croce in via Flaminia.

1978 - He participated in the two conclaves.

1990 - Became the Church's Major Penitentiary.

2001 - Suffered from deteriorating eyesight that cause him to resigned as Penitentiary.

2003 - Attended the meeting of American cardinals called to deal with the sex abuse scandal.

2005 - Baum was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.