Roman Curia
He served in Southern Africa until 6 November 1984, when he was appointed Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Netherlands, where he served until in 1988 he was appointed Substitute of the Secretariat of State in the Roman Curia. After only a year he was appointed as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. In the consistory of 28 June 1991 Pope John Paul II created him Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Via Lata. On 26 February 2001 he took the option open to cardinal deacons to be elevated to the rank of cardinal priest after ten years as a cardinal deacon.
In 1999, Cassidy was jointly responsible for the publication of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, widely received as an ecumenical peace document. Reflecting on his involvement, Cassidy commented:
"If on judgement day the Lord asks what did, if nothing else, can say that signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification."
He retired in 2001 and returned to his native Australia. After his retirement, for the first time ever, during the period from 21 October 2003 (when George Pell was made cardinal) until Edward Bede Clancy's 80th birthday on 13 December, there were three Australian cardinal electors (had a Papal election become necessary).
His book titled Rediscovering Vatican II - Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue, was published 2005 and marked the 40th anniversary of the Vatican's ecumenism declaration Nostra Aetate. The book made a significant contribution to ongoing international inter-religious dialogue.
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