Philippe Barbarin
Archdiocese of Lyon·20th century·France·Catholic Church
Philippe Barbarin is a French Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Lyon from 2002 to 2020 and was made a cardinal in 2003. He was convicted in 2019 of failing to report alleged sex abuse by a priest, receiving a suspended six-month prison sentence, though his conviction was later overturned on appeal. Pope Francis accepted his resignation shortly after the conviction was overturned.
Key Facts
- ›Served as Archbishop of Lyon from 2002 to 2020.
- ›Constituted as a cardinal in 2003.
- ›Convicted in 2019 for failing to report alleged sex abuse by a priest, receiving a suspended sentence.
- ›His conviction was overturned in 2020.
- ›Resigned as Archbishop of Lyon in March 2020.
- ›Participated in the 2005 and 2013 papal conclaves.
- Created A Program At the Diocesan Seminary To Prepare Priests According To the 1962 Roman Missal Tradition.
- Engaged In Islamic-Christian Dialogue, Visiting Tibhirine, Algeria, and Refugee Camps In Iraq.
- Led Bishops In Calling For A Hospital To Maintain Life Support For Vincent Lambert.
About Philippe Barbarin
Philippe Barbarin is a French Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Lyon from 2002 to 2020 and was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2003. Born on October 17, 1950, in Rabat, French Morocco, Barbarin's early life and education involved studies in philosophy and theology before his ordination as a priest on December 17, 1977.
Life and Career
Barbarin held various pastoral assignments in France before teaching theology in Madagascar. He was appointed Bishop of Moulins on October 1, 1998, and subsequently named Archbishop of Lyon on July 16, 2002. During his tenure, he initiated programs for priestly formation aligned with older liturgical traditions and was actively involved in interfaith dialogue, notably visiting Tibhirine, Algeria, and refugee camps in Iraq.
Handling of Sexual Abuse Allegations
A significant period of Barbarin's archiepiscopate was marked by legal proceedings concerning his failure to report alleged sex abuse by a priest. In 2019, he was convicted and given a suspended prison sentence, though he appealed the verdict. His conviction was overturned in January 2020, with the appeals court accepting his arguments regarding reporting obligations. Following this, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Lyon in March 2020. The highest court in France later cleared Barbarin in April 2021.
Cardinalate and Papal Conclaves
Philippe Barbarin was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on October 21, 2003. He participated as a cardinal elector in the papal conclaves of 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI, and 2013, which elected Pope Francis.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Philippe Barbarin born?
Philippe Barbarin was born on October 17, 1950.
What was Philippe Barbarin's role in the Archdiocese of Lyon?
He served as the Archbishop of Lyon from 2002 to 2020. He was also made a cardinal in 2003.
What was the outcome of the legal proceedings against Philippe Barbarin?
In 2019, he was convicted of failing to report alleged sex abuse by a priest and received a suspended six-month prison sentence. However, his conviction was overturned on appeal in 2020.
Did Philippe Barbarin resign from his position as Archbishop of Lyon?
Yes, Pope Francis accepted his resignation on March 6, 2020, shortly after his conviction was overturned.
What are some of Philippe Barbarin's notable achievements?
He created a program to prepare priests according to the 1962 Roman Missal tradition and was at the forefront of Islamic-Christian dialogue, visiting locations significant to interfaith relations.
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