Legal training preceded a religious career for the man appointed Archbishop of Lyon in 1937. Pierre-Marie Gerlier transitioned from his early practice of law to ecclesiastical service after completing studies at seminaries in Issy and Fribourg. His public profile evolved through military service in World War I, followed by decades managing high-level administrative responsibilities within the Roman Catholic Church.
Ecclesiastical Rise
Born in Versailles in 1880, Gerlier attended the University of Bordeaux before entering the seminary. He was ordained a priest on July 29, 1921, subsequently performing pastoral work in Paris. Pope Pius XI appointed him Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes on May 14, 1929, with his consecration taking place at Notre Dame Cathedral on July 2. By 1937, he attained the rank of cardinal and the title of Primate of Gaul, serving as the Cardinal-Priest of Trinité des Monts until 1965.
Wartime Actions and Controversies
During World War II, Gerlier opposed the deportation of Jewish people to Nazi death camps and encouraged religious institutions to provide sanctuary for Jewish children. Yad Vashem recognized these efforts by awarding him the title of Righteous Among the Nations in 1981. However, his record during the occupation remains complex. He faced criticism for failing to intervene during the 1943 arrest and subsequent deportation of Jacques Helbronner, the president of the Consistoire, despite their personal association.
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Gerlier participated in three papal conclaves: those of 1939, 1958, and 1963. Within the French Episcopal Conference, he served as president from 1938 to 1945 and vice-president from 1945 to 1948. His later years were marked by support for the Worker-Priest movement and the Taizé Community, alongside an honorary doctorate from Laval University in 1947. In 1957, he presided over the deathbed conversion of politician Édouard Herriot.
Death and Legacy
The cardinal died of a heart attack in the 5th arrondissement of Lyon in 1965 at the age of 85. He was a member of the Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Lyon. His remains are interred within the Lyon Cathedral. Throughout his final years, he attended the initial three sessions of the Second Vatican Council before his health declined.
Fast facts
- Born: 1880, Versailles
- Died: 1965, Lyon
- Ordination: 1921
- Episcopal consecration: 1929
- Created Cardinal: 1937
- Righteous Among the Nations award: 1981
- Honorary doctorate: Laval University, 1947
Questions readers ask
What was Pierre-Marie Gerlier's occupation before becoming a priest?
He was a lawyer.
Was Gerlier involved in the Second Vatican Council?
Yes, he attended the first three sessions of the council.
Why was he named Righteous Among the Nations?
He was honoured for his efforts to protect and hide Jewish children from deportation during World War II.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1981
- Worked as Catholic priest, lawyer and Catholic deacon
