Born in Rabat, Morocco, Philippe Barbarin spent 25 years of his priesthood dedicated to education in Catholic institutions in the Diocese of Creteil. From 1994-1998 he was a Fidei Donum missionary in Madagascar.
Author of numerous articles, Archbishop Barbarin, 51, has published several books for young people and an introduction to the work of theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, entitled «Theology and Holiness» (Parole et Silence, 1999).
Lyon has traditionally been the see of a cardinal. It has 1.72 million inhabitants, including 1.2 million Catholics. They are served by 514 parishes, 493 diocesan priests, 385 priests religious, 46 permanent deacons and 2,090 women religious. The archdiocese has 313 Catholic educational centers, and 33 charitable institutions of the Church.
