Jean-Baptiste de Belloy

Jean-Baptiste Count de Belloy (1709-1808)

Jean-Baptiste Count de Belloy was a significant figure in the Catholic Church in France, serving as Bishop of Marseille before becoming Archbishop of Paris and a cardinal. Born on October 9, 1709, in Morangles, he pursued an ecclesiastical career after classical and theological studies in Paris, where he was ordained a priest.

Episcopal Career and Challenges

Belloy was appointed Bishop of Glandèves in 1751 and consecrated the following year. He was later transferred to the Diocese of Marseille in 1755, a see experiencing deep dissensions due to the papal bull Unigenitus. In Marseille, Belloy successfully restored peace and gained the confidence of various factions, including the Jesuits and Dominicans.

Role During the Revolution and Napoleonic Era

In 1790, the National Assembly decreed the suppression of the Diocese of Marseille, prompting a letter of protest from Belloy. He retired during the Revolution's most critical period. His willingness to resign his bishopric in 1801, a move that facilitated the Concordat of 1801, was instrumental in his appointment as Archbishop of Paris by Napoleon in 1802. He governed his new diocese with notable vigor despite his advanced age, undertaking the reconstruction of Notre Dame's chapter and reorganizing parishes.

Elevation to Cardinal and Later Life

At Napoleon's request, Belloy was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Pius VII in 1803. He received the red biretta from the emperor and the galero from the Pope in Paris. He was also honored with membership in the Legion of Honor, becoming Grand-Officer and then Grand-Eagle. His later actions included restoring the Crown of Thorns to the Sainte Chapelle and fixing the number of canons at Notre Dame. Jean-Baptiste de Belloy died in Paris on June 10, 1808, at the age of ninety-eight. He was buried in the Chapelle Saint-Marcel in Notre Dame, with a monument erected in his honor by Napoleon.