French cardinal challenges Ratzinger

National Catholic Reporter, Feb 18, 2000 by John L. Allen, Jr.

Marco Politi, Vatican affairs writer for Rome's la Repubblica newspaper, wrote at the time that Eyt had emerged as a strong candidate for the papacy.

In 1995, during intense debate over controversial French Bishop Jacques Gaillot, Eyt was asked what sort of epitaph he would like to see affixed to his episcopacy. He responded: "A traditional moderate who tried to hold onto the old Catholic liberal wing because he knew they were sincere."

The Catholic News Service contributed to this report.