Léon Papin Dupont

Léon Papin Dupont (1797 — 18 March 1876), a fervent Roman Catholic who promoted the veneration of the Holy Face of Jesus, was the impassioned "devoté" whose excavations in 1860 at Tours of the former basilica church of Saint Martin were influential in the campaign to build a new "Basilique Saint-Martin" in its ancient site in the city, repurchased from property owners. The project, which was the culmination of the revival of the cult of Saint Martin, at the instigation of Dupont received the blessing of Pope Pius IX in 1856. [ [http://voiemystique.free.fr/leon_dupont_extrait.htm Léon Papin Dupont] , source of biographical information.] The present "Basilique Saint-Martin", built to designs by Victor Laloux, was consecrated 4 July 1925.

Dupont's family were patrician planters of Martinique. The loss of his young wife Caroline d’Audiffredy, eight months after the birth of their daughter, and the loss of his daughter at the age of fifteen, confirmed his pious avocation. In 1834 e settled at Tours where he devoted his life to the Church and the poor, especially through his support of the " Petites Sœurs des Pauvres". Receiving an icon of the Holy Face as presented on Veronica's Veil, he made it his object of veneration. Dupont encouraged visitors to his salon, where the image was received as the source of miraculous cures and conversions. He was a personal and public advocate of the perpetual adoration of the Eucharist.

Since 1983 he has been recognized by the Roman church as the Venerable Léon Papin Dupont. His drawing-room continues to be maintained as an oratory with expectations that a miracle will encourage his canonization.

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