Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeaux (France), was born on September 25, 1944 in Marseille, France. He was ordained a priest on October 5, 1968.
On April 17, 1993 he was appointed titular Bishop of Pulcheriopolis and Auxiliary of Grenoble. He received episcopal ordination on June 6 of the same year. On July 4, 1996 he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Montpellier, and on September 6, of that year he was made Bishop of the diocese.
In 1999 he went to Peru to visit the fidei donum priest of Montpellier, Fr. André Bésinet. In 2000 he went to Lebanon to meet with political and religious leaders.
On December 21, 2001 he was appointed Archbishop of Bordeaux.
Cardinal Ricard has worked hard to further relations with Jews and to revive bonds between the Church of France and in Africa, setting up an "African sector" and a "European sector" within the presidency of the Bishops’s Conference.
In 2003 he published a book called Sept défis pour l’Eglise (Seven Challenges for the Church).
He has participated in the Synod of Bishops on the ministry of the Bishop (2001) and on the Eucharist (2005).
President of the Bishops’ Conference of France (November 6, 2001 - November 5, 2007).
In October 2006 he was elected Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE).
Created and proclaimed cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of March 24, 2006, of the Title of Sant’Agostino (St. Augustine).
Member of:
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
- Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.
