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Jean Marie Balland

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His Eminence
Jean Marie Balland
Cardinal,
Archbishop of Lyon
Church Catholic Church
Archdiocese Lyon
See Lyon
Appointed 27 May 1995
Term ended 1 March 1998
Predecessor Albert Decourtray
Successor Louis-Marie Billé
Other post Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Vincoli (1998)
Previous posts Bishop of Dijon (1982–88)
Archbishop of Reims (1988–95)
Orders
Ordination 3 September 1961
Consecration 12 December 1982
by Charles-Marie-Paul Vignancour
Created cardinal 21 February 1998
by Pope John Paul II
Rank Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born Jean Marie Julien Balland
26 July 1934
Bué, France
Died 1 March 1998 (aged 63)
Lyon, France
Alma mater Pontifical Gregorian University
Sorbonne University
Motto Veritatem facientes in caritate

Jean Marie Julien Balland (26 July 1934 in Bué, Cher, France – 1 March 1998 in Lyon) was a Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of Lyon.[1]

Early life

He entered the seminary and later attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he earned a licentiate in philosophy in 1956, and in theology.[1] He later attended the Sorbonne University in Paris where he graduated with doctorates in philosophy and theology. He was ordained on 3 September 1961.[2]

After his ordination he was a faculty member of the seminary where he was ordained from 1962 to 1968. He was transferred, teaching at Tours from 1967 to 1973.

Episcopate

Pope John Paul II appointed him as Bishop of Dijon on 6 November 1982. He was transferred to the Metropolitan see of Reims in 1988.[1] He was appointed as the Archbishop of Lyon on 27 May 1995.[3] Archbishop Balland was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest in the consistory of 21 February 1998 with the titular church of San Pietro in Vincoli.[1]

In 1992, politician Jean Marie Le Pen planned to hold a meeting in front of Reims Cathedral; Bishop Balland closed the cathedral and canceled masses that day in protest of this.[4]

He died of lung cancer on 1 March 1998,[3] eight days after becoming a cardinal.

References