André Vingt-Trois

infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=André Cardinal Vingt-Trois
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
See=Paris|

André Armand Cardinal Vingt-Trois (born November 7, 1942) is a French prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Archbishop of Paris, having previously served as Archbishop of Tours from 1999 to 2005, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2007.

Biography

André Vingt-Trois was born in Paris to Armand and Paulette (née Vuillamy) Vingt-Trois. He completed his secondary studies at the Lycée Henri IV and entered the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice at Issy-les-Moulineaux in 1962. He then attended the Institut Catholique de Paris, from where he obtained his licentiate in moral theology. From 1964 to 1965, Vingt-Trois performed his military service in Germany. He was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Daniel Pezeril in October 1968, and to the priesthood by François Cardinal Marty on June 28, 1969.

During his priestly ministry, he worked especially in parochial catechetics and the formation of the laity. From 1974 to 1981, Vingt-Trois was vicar at the Parisian parish of Sainte-Jeanne de Chantal. He then served as director of his "alma mater" of the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice until 1988, also teaching moral and sacramental theology there. Vingt-Trois participated in different pastoral movements, including the Centre de préparation au mariage and the sessions of permanent formation of the clergy. He was later named vicar general of Paris, and was charged with the diocesan formation (the cathedral school and diocesan seminary), of the means of communications (Radio Notre-Dame, Paris Notre-Dame, Centre d'Information), of the familial pastoral, of the chaplains of public education, and of catechetics.

On June 25, 1988, Vingt-Trois was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Paris and Titular Bishop of "Thibilis" by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 14 from Jean-Marie Cardinal Lustiger, with Bishops Pézeril and Gabriel Vanel serving as co-consecrators, in Notre-Dame Cathedral. Vingt-Trois was later named Archbishop of Tours on April 21, 1999, and Archbishop of Paris on 11 February, 2005. He was installed in Paris on 5 March, and appointed Ordinary of French Catholics of the Eastern Rites as well on 14 March. On 5 November, 2007, he was elected President of the French Episcopal Conference for a term of three years.

Pope Benedict XVI created him Cardinal Priest of "S. Luigi dei Francesi" in the consistory of 24 November, 2007. Vingt-Trois will be eligible to participate in any future papal conclaves until he reaches the age of eighty on 7 November, 2022.

On 12 June 2008 in addition to his main duties he was appointed by Benedict as a member of congregations in the Roman Curia [http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/22278.php?index=22278&lang=en] . These are: the Congregation for Bishops and the Pontifical Council for the Family.

External links

* [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios2007.htm#Vingt Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bving.html Catholic-Hierarchy]
* [http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=267 Catholic-pages]