Cardinal Bernard Agré, Archbishop emeritus of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, was born on March 2, 1926 in Monga, Côte d'Ivoire. He was ordained on July 20, 1953 and holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome.

He was a headmaster in Dabou, rector of the pre-seminary in Bingerville, parish priest of Notre Dame Parish in Treichville and Vicar General of Abidjan. On June 8, 1968 he was appointed Bishop of Man and received episcopal ordination on October 3. On March 6, 1992 he was named Bishop of the new Diocese of Yamoussoukro and on December 19, 1994 was promoted to Archbishop of Abidjan.

From 1985 until 1991, he was President of the Episcopal Conferences of Francophone West Africa (CERAO) and, from 1972 until 1996, Chairman of the Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS).

He was also a member of the Committee of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

President Delegate for the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2001).

Archbishop emeritus of Abidjan, May 2, 2006.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the consistory of February 21, 2001, of the Title of S. Giovanni Crisostomo a Monte Sacro Alto (St. John Chrysostom in Monte Sacro Alto).