Pope Francis has appointed as metropolitan archbishop of Marseille, France, H.E. Msgr. Jean-Marc Aveline, currently titular bishop of Simidicca and auxiliary of Marseille. He replaces H.E. Msgr. Georges Pontier, 76, whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father.
H.E. Msgr. Jean-Marc Aveline
H.E. Msgr. Jean-Marc Aveline was born on December 26, 1958, in Sidi Bel Abbès (Diocese of Oran, Algeria). After his secondary studies at the Lycée Thiers in Marseille, in 1977 he entered the interdiocesan seminary of Avignon, where he attended the first cycle of theology, and then at the Séminaire des Carmes in Paris, where he carried out his theological studies at the Institut Catholique, obtaining a doctorate in theology in 2000. He also holds a licentiate in philosophy from the Université Paris I et Paris IV Sorbonne.
He was ordained a priest on 3 November 1984 for the archdiocese of Marseille.
Since priestly ordination, he has held the following roles: professor of theology and director of studies at the interdiocesan seminary in Marseille and member of the pastoral team of the Saint-Marcel parish in Marseille; episcopal vicar for permanent formation and member of the pastoral team of the Saint-Pierre – Saint Paul parish in Marseille (1987-2007); head of the Service diocésain des vocations and diocesan delegate for seminarians (1991-1996); founder and director of the Institut des sciences et de théologie des religions of Marseille (ISTR) (1992-2002); director of the Institut Saint-Jean, which in 1998 became the Institut Catholique de la Méditerranée, associated with the Faculty of Theology of Lyon (1995-2013); and teacher in the Faculty of Theology of the Université Catholique de Lyon (1997-2007). Since 2007 he has also served as vicar general of Marseille. In addition, from 2008 to 2012 he was consultor to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
On December 19, 2013, he was elected to the titular see of Simidicca and appointed as auxiliary bishop of Marseille. He received episcopal ordination on 26 January 2014.
Within the French Episcopal Conference, he is president of the Council for Interreligious Relations and the new religious currents.
H.E. Msgr. Jean-Marc Aveline
H.E. Msgr. Jean-Marc Aveline was born on December 26, 1958, in Sidi Bel Abbès (Diocese of Oran, Algeria). After his secondary studies at the Lycée Thiers in Marseille, in 1977 he entered the interdiocesan seminary of Avignon, where he attended the first cycle of theology, and then at the Séminaire des Carmes in Paris, where he carried out his theological studies at the Institut Catholique, obtaining a doctorate in theology in 2000. He also holds a licentiate in philosophy from the Université Paris I et Paris IV Sorbonne.
He was ordained a priest on 3 November 1984 for the archdiocese of Marseille.
Since priestly ordination, he has held the following roles: professor of theology and director of studies at the interdiocesan seminary in Marseille and member of the pastoral team of the Saint-Marcel parish in Marseille; episcopal vicar for permanent formation and member of the pastoral team of the Saint-Pierre – Saint Paul parish in Marseille (1987-2007); head of the Service diocésain des vocations and diocesan delegate for seminarians (1991-1996); founder and director of the Institut des sciences et de théologie des religions of Marseille (ISTR) (1992-2002); director of the Institut Saint-Jean, which in 1998 became the Institut Catholique de la Méditerranée, associated with the Faculty of Theology of Lyon (1995-2013); and teacher in the Faculty of Theology of the Université Catholique de Lyon (1997-2007). Since 2007 he has also served as vicar general of Marseille. In addition, from 2008 to 2012 he was consultor to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
On December 19, 2013, he was elected to the titular see of Simidicca and appointed as auxiliary bishop of Marseille. He received episcopal ordination on 26 January 2014.
Within the French Episcopal Conference, he is president of the Council for Interreligious Relations and the new religious currents.
