Cardinal Georges Marie Martin Cottier, O.P., Theologian emeritus of the Pontifical Household, was born in Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland, on April 25, 1922. He entered the Dominican Order in 1945 and was ordained a priest on July 2, 1951. He holds a degree in classical studies, a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a doctorate in theology.

In 1962 Cardinal Cottier began teaching at the Faculty of Letters in Geneva. In 1973 he was put in charge of certain courses at the University of Fribourg. He was Visiting Professor at the University of Montreal, the University of the Catholic Institute in Paris, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan and the University of Padua.

He took part as an expert in the Second Vatican Council and was a consultor to the then-Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers, participating in colloquiums around the world.

In 1986 he was appointed a member of the International Theological Commission and became its secretary in 1989.

In 1990, he was nominated Theologian of the Pontifical Household.

He has also served as president of historical-theological commission of the organizing committee of the Grand Jubilee of the Year 2000. Presently, he serves as director of the journal Nova et Vetera (Geneva), founded by Cardinal Journet.

Preconized Cardinal, was elected to the titular Church of Tullia, with personal title of Archbishop, on October 7, 2003 and consacrated on October 20.

Theologian emeritus of the Pontifical Household, December 1, 2005.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of October 21, 2003, of the Deaconry of Ss. Domenico e Sisto (Sts. Dominic and Sixtus).