French Cardinal Bernard Panafieu, archbishop emeritus of Marseille, died on the night of November 12, 2017 at the age of 86. His burial mass will be held at La Major Cathedral on November 17, 2017.
Pope Francis expressed his condolences in a telegram.
Cardinal Bernard Panafieu, Archbishop emeritus of Marseille, was born on January 26, 1931, in Châtellerault, France. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Albi on April 22, 1956. Cardinal Panafieu served as vicar at Saint-Sauveur di Mazamet, and as chaplain of La Pérouse School, Albi, and of the university parish. He was also chaplain of students in Tolosa, parish dean of Brassac and general secretary of the Presbyteral Council of Albi.
He was elected titular Bishop of Thibilis and Auxiliary Bishop of Annecy on April 18, 1974, receiving episcopal ordination on June. 9
On November 30, 1978, he was transferred to Aix-en-Provence.
He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Marseille with the right of succession on August 24, 1994, and became Archbishop on April 22, 1995.
Cardinal Panafieu has served as President of the Episcopal Committee for Inter-religious Relations and New Religious Trends, President of the Secretariat for Religious Relations with Islam and a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Universal Mission of the Church.
He became Archbishop emeritus of Marseille, May 12, 2006.
He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by St. John Paul II in the consistory of October 21, 2003, of the Title of San Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane (St. Gregory Barbarigo at Tre Fontane).
He died on November 12, 2017.
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