Abbe Pierre - short biography

L'Abbé Pierre (born Henri Antoine Grouès in Lyon) (5 August 1912 - 22 January 2007) was a French Catholic priest known for founding the Emmaüs movement, which has the goal of helping poor and homeless people and refugees. Abbé means abbot in French and is also used as a courtesy title given to Catholic priests.

In 1930 Henri entered the Capuchin Order but had to leave after severe lung infections, which made the strict and hard monastic life under the Rule impossible. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1938.

His pseudonym dates from his work with the French resistance during the Second World War, when he operated under several different names. He saved thousands of lives during the war, both Jews and politically persecuted, by helping them in their escape to Switzerland or Algeria.

Emmaüs was started in 1949. Abbé Pierre also had the distinction of having been voted France's most popular person for many years, and in 2003 he surpassed Zinedine Zidane, moving into second place. Besides founding Emmaüs, he has also been somewhat controversial. He was a friend of the philosopher and convicted Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy. On the other side, some conservatives have criticized his support of gay adoption and admission of once having had casual sex with a female despite his vow of chastity.[2]

In 2005 Abbé Pierre came third in a television poll to choose Le Plus Grand Français (The Greatest Frenchman).

Abbé Pierre was also awarded the Balzan Prize for Humanity, Peace and Brotherhood among Peoples in 1991 “for having fought, throughout his life, for the defence of human rights, democracy and peace. For having entirely dedicated himself to helping to relieve spiritual and physical suffering. For having inspired – regardless of nationality, race or religion – universal solidarity with the Emmaus Communities.”

Many of his publications are translated; except, for example, his book for children (at least over ten years), title: "C'est quoi la mort ?" - concerning a lot about life - suits for French lessons (partly very much in the style of Le Petit Prince by Saint-Exupéry).

He died on 22 January 2007 in the Val-de-Grace hospital, France, following a lung infection, aged 94.[3]

 

  By: Tejvan Pettinger