Diocese of the French Armed Forces
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of the French Armed Forces is a military ordinariate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. Immediately subject to the Holy See
, it provides pastoral care
to Roman Catholics serving in the French Armed Forces and their families.
is located at the Church of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides
(L'Église Saint-Louis-des-Invalides) in Paris
, France
.
Military ordinariate
A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, of Latin or Eastern Rite, responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the armed forces of a nation....
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Immediately subject to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, it provides pastoral care
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
to Roman Catholics serving in the French Armed Forces and their families.
History
The post of military bishop was created in 1949, and a military vicariate was established on 26 July 1952. It was elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986. The Episcopal seatCathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
is located at the Church of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides
Les Invalides
Les Invalides , officially known as L'Hôtel national des Invalides , is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's...
(L'Église Saint-Louis-des-Invalides) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Military bishops
- Maurice FeltinMaurice FeltinMaurice Feltin was a French Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Paris from 1949 to 1966, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1953 by Pope Pius XII.-Biography:...
(appointed 29 October 1949 – became military vicar 26 July 1952)
Military vicars
- Maurice FeltinMaurice FeltinMaurice Feltin was a French Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Paris from 1949 to 1966, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1953 by Pope Pius XII.-Biography:...
(appointed 26 July 1952 – retired 15 April 1967) - Jean-Marie-Clément Badré (appointed 15 May 1967 – translated to the Diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux 10 December 1969)
- Gabriel Marie Étienne Vanel (appointed 21 April 1970 – resigned 12 February 1983)
- Jacques Louis Marie Joseph Fihey (appointed 12 February 1983 – became military ordinary 21 July 1986)
Military ordinaries
- Jacques Louis Marie Joseph Fihey (appointed 21 July 1986 – translated to the Diocese of Countances-Avranches 22 April 1989)
- Michel Marie Jacques Dubost, C.I.M.EudistsThe Congregation of Jesus and Mary , commonly referred to as the Eudists is a Society of Apostolic Life in the Roman Catholic Church.-History:...
(appointed 9 August 1989 – translated to the Diocese of Évry–Corbeil-EssonnesRoman Catholic Diocese of Évry–Corbeil-EssonnesThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Évry–Corbeil-Essonnes, is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in France. Erected in 1966 as the Diocese of Corbiel, the diocese was split off from the Diocese of Versailles. In 1988, the dioces was renamed to the Diocese of Évry–Corbeil-Essonnes...
15 April 2000) - Patrick Le Gal (appointed 23 May 2000 – appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishopAn auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of LyonRoman Catholic Archdiocese of LyonThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lyon is a Roman Catholic Metropolitan archdiocese in France. It incorporates the ancient Archdiocese of Vienne. The current Cardinal-Archbishop is Philippe Barbarin...
7 October 2009) - Luc Marie Daniel Ravel, C.R.S.V.Canons RegularCanons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
(current incumbent, appointed 7 October 2009)