Paris: The Catholic Church in France and the wider global Catholic community are mourning the death of Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, former Archbishop of Paris and one of the most prominent figures in the French episcopate. The 83-year-old prelate passed away on Friday, July 18, after years of retirement following a battle with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a debilitating neurological disorder.
Cardinal Vingt-Trois had stepped down from his duties in 2017 due to health complications. Despite his early retirement, his legacy as a pastor, theologian, and Church leader remains indelible. A thoughtful voice in ecclesiastical and social matters, he served as president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of France and was known for his clear moral vision and efforts to uphold the Church’s relevance in modern French society.
Born on November 7, 1942, in Paris, André Vingt-Trois was ordained a priest on June 28, 1969, and rose steadily through the ranks of the French clergy. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Paris in 1988, later serving as Archbishop of Tours from 1999 to 2005. In March 2005, he was appointed Archbishop of Paris, a post he held until his retirement in 2017.
Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the College of Cardinals on November 24, 2007, making him one of the most influential French clerics of his generation. In 2013, Cardinal Vingt-Trois was among the cardinal electors in the historic papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.
Cardinal Vingt-Trois was widely regarded as a prudent administrator and a man of deep theological reflection. Throughout his tenure, he was an articulate advocate for Church teachings in the public square and engaged consistently with issues of bioethics, secularism, and family life, which were often contentious in French society.
With his passing, the College of Cardinals now numbers 249 members, of whom 131 are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a future conclave. The remaining 118, including many senior Church leaders around the world, are no longer eligible to vote due to age.
Funeral arrangements for the late cardinal are expected to be announced by the Archdiocese of Paris in the coming days. Church leaders, political figures, and faithful Catholics across France have already begun paying tribute to a man remembered for his clarity of thought, quiet strength, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel.