James Joseph Norris, (1907-1976), was an American advocate for refugees and displaced people whose humanitarian work on their behalf was global in scope and spanned three decades, from his appointment as European Director of War Relief Services, (later Catholic Relief Services), in 1946, until his death on November 17, 1976. Working in collaboration with the Holy See, (Vatican), and Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, (later Pope Paul VI), Norris established, in 1951, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). During his presidency of ICMC from its inception in 1951 until 1974, the agency assisted in the provision of relief, rehabilitation and resettlement assistance to over 200,000 refugees.
Because of his expertise on the subject of world poverty, Pope Paul VI appointed James Norris to serve as a Lay Auditor at the Second Vatican Council. As such, he was the only Lay Auditor to participate in the debates of the Council. On November 5, 1964, he delivered an historic intervention in Saint PeterâÂÂs Basilica before the assembled bishops of the world, entitled âÂÂWorld Poverty and the Christian ConscienceâÂÂ. Norris wrote and delivered the speech in Latin, the official language of the Roman Catholic Church, under the title: âÂÂDE PAUPERTATE MUNDIALI IN SCHEMATE DE ECCLESIA IN MUND0 HUIUS TEMPORISâÂÂ. In his speech, Norris proposed âÂÂthat from this ecumenical council there come a clarion call for action that would involve the creation of a structure that would devise the kind of institutions, contacts, forms of cooperation and policy, which the Church can adopt, to secure full Catholic participation in the world-wide attack on povertyâÂÂ. (English translation from the Latin original).
The week after James NorrisâÂÂs intervention at the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI presided at a solemn Mass in Saint PeterâÂÂs Basilica on November 13, 1964. At the end of the Mass, Pope Paul symbolically laid his Coronation Tiara on the main altar of the Basilica as a gift for the poor of the world. As the Pope did so, Archbishop Pericle Felici, Secretary General of the Second Vatican Council, read a Pontifical pronouncement informing that Pope PaulâÂÂs symbolic donation was being made âÂÂin response to the many grave words spoken in the Ecumenical Council on the misery and hunger in the modern world.â On the same date as the PopeâÂÂs donation, November 13, 1964, an article appeared in the <u>New York World-Telegram</u>, under the title: âÂÂPope Paul Gives Crown to Poor.â Under the byline: <u>Ernest Sackler, United Press International</u>, the article read: âÂÂPope Paul VI today donated the gold-and-diamond studded crown he wore at his coronation to open a world fund drive against poverty. It was believed that an American may have played a large role in the PopeâÂÂs decision to start a collection to combat poverty. James J. Norris, a Catholic layman from Rumson, N.J., told the Ecumenical Council that all Christians should unite in such a campaign.âÂÂ
James NorrisâÂÂs intervention at the Second Vatican Council led to the creation of a secretariat and working group of experts that culminated in the establishment by the Holy See of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, (1967), and the Pontifical Council âÂÂCor UnumâÂÂ, (1971). Pope Paul VI appointed Norris a charter member of both Pontifical Councils. Pope Paul also designated Norris to represent the Holy See at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In recognition of the importance of James NorrisâÂÂs lifeâÂÂs work for refugees, he was honored with the United Nationsâ highest humanitarian award, the Fridtjof Nansen Medal, (Nansen Refugee Award), awarded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in recognition of âÂÂoutstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced or stateless people.â On October 29, 1976, Norris was notified that he was to be the recipient of the Award by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Norris died three weeks later, before the Ceremony, scheduled for December 10, 1976, (United Nations Human Rights Day). At the Palais des Nations, UN Headquarters in Geneva, NorrisâÂÂs widow, Amanda, accepted the Nansen Medal posthumously on her husbandâÂÂs behalf. In the acceptance speech which James Norris had prepared, and which was read at the Ceremony by his son, Stephen, Norris exhorted the world: âÂÂto keep holding high the torch of hope for those whose cause at times seems hopeless, the torch of faith for those who might waver in their belief that the world does care, and the torch of charity that tells our brother in need that we stand, in love, at his sideâÂÂ.
On November 19, 1976, Pope Paul VI celebrated Mass for the repose of James NorrisâÂÂs soul. In a hand-written letter to Archbishop Paul Marcinkus that was passed on to NorrisâÂÂs widow, Pope Paul wrote: âÂÂAbbiamo conosciuto da molti anni questo buono e fedele Cattolico, e abbiamo offerto la Santa Messa in suffragio della sua anima e per il cristiano conforto dei suoi parenti e dei suoi amiciâ¦Paulus P.P. VI" Translation: âÂÂWe have known for many years this good and faithful Catholic and we have offered the Holy Mass for the repose of his soul and the christian comfort of his relatives and friends...Paulus P.P. VIâÂÂ
On November 22, 1976, a Memorial Mass was celebrated in the Capella del Coro at Saint PeterâÂÂs Basilica. The celebrant was Joseph L. Bernardin, Archbishop of Cincinnati and President of the Catholic Relief Services executive board. The Mass was attended by many of NorrisâÂÂs Vatican confreres and friends and some forty Catholic Relief Services staff members, as well as Mother Teresa, (now Saint Teresa of Calcutta).
Among the thousands of letters of condolence and tribute that James NorrisâÂÂs widow received from every continent following his death, was a letter from Ignatius S. DâÂÂSouza, Bishop of Baroda, India, in which the Bishop referred to James Norris as âÂÂGodâÂÂs own perfect gentleman and a great benefactor of the poor and lonely scattered around the worldâÂÂ. Bishop DâÂÂSouza further wrote: âÂÂMr. James Norris, I am sure, is already enjoying the rich reward in heaven for his wonderful, noble and exemplary life; and will obtain for you the necessary grace and strength to bear the heavy cross of separation until the day dawns of eternal union and meeting. In the meantime, prayers rising up to the throne of God from thousands of grateful hearts from all over the world will certainly bring abundant blessings upon your home.âÂÂ
And from Bujumbura, Burundi, where, in 1972, âÂÂNorris had faced down BurundiâÂÂs President Michel Micombero, (over the massacres between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups), came a condolence letter endorsed by the six members of the CRS [Catholic Relief Services] Burundi Staff âÂÂ- five signatures and a thumbprintâÂÂ.
Commander, December 16, 1969
Commander with Star, Nov. 10, 1972
Knight of the Grand Cross, Oct. 20, 1976