Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, S.J., Rector emeritus of the Pontifical Biblical Institute and former Secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, was born on July 24, 1923 in Hazebrouck, France. He was ordained a priest for the Society of Jesus on July 26, 1954 and holds licentiates in literature, philosophy and theology, and a doctorate in sacred scripture.

Since 1963, Cardinal Vanhoye has been professor at the Pontifical Institute the Biblicum in Rome, where he was also Dean of the biblical faculty from 1969-1975 and Rector from 1984-1990.

He also taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Lateran University, and carried out many other activities in the field of scholarship and as a member of various societies. He has also published numerous works in various languages.

Cardinal Vanhoye was a member of the Commission for the preparation of the Apostolic Constitution Sapientia Christiana, and was a member and secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity from 1980-1996; the Congregation for Catholic Education since 1976 and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 1990.

Created and proclaimed cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of March 24, 2006, of the Deaconry of Santa Maria della Mercede e Sant’Adriano a Villa Albani (St. Mary of Mercy and St. Adrian at Villa Albani). He was installed on May 28, 2006.