CNA Newsroom, Apr 3, 2025 / 12:00 pm
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline has been elected president of the French bishops’ conference, succeeding Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort as the Catholic Church in France continues responding to revelations of sexual abuse.
The 66-year-old archbishop of Marseille was elected on April 2 during the bishops’ spring plenary assembly in Lourdes.
Aveline will officially assume leadership of the conference on July 1 alongside newly elected vice presidents Archbishop Vincent Jordy of Tours and Bishop Benoît Bertrand of Pontoise.
Aveline, who was born in Algeria and has served as a priest in Marseille for over 40 years, is known for his close relationship with Pope Francis.
The pope created him a cardinal in August 2022 and briefly visited Marseille in September 2023.
According to French media, Aveline is the most recognized French cardinal in Rome.
Aveline succeeds Moulins-Beaufort, who served as conference president since 2019 and led the French Church through one of its most challenging periods. During his tenure, the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE) released its landmark 2021 report estimating that approximately 330,000 minors had been victims of sexual abuse in Church settings since 1950.
The outgoing president guided the bishops’ response to this crisis, which included implementing numerous reforms and establishing support systems for survivors.
In December 2022, the French bishops established a new legal structure to deal with crimes and offenses committed by clerics and laity within the Church, including sexual abuse of adults.
In an interview published in Le Pèlerin last week, Moulins-Beaufort acknowledged the ongoing work needed to address abuse.
Aveline, who has advocated for dialogue between religions and cultures and promoted welcoming migrants — key priorities of Pope Francis’ pontificate — now faces the challenge of continuing this critical work while addressing other pressing issues facing the French Church.
His term as president of the French bishops’ conference is set for three years, with the possibility of a single renewal.
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