H.Em. Card. Paul Poupard

H.Em. Card. Paul Poupard, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council of Culture and President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, was born in France at Bouzillé in the Diocese of Angers, on August 30, 1930. He completed his studies, and was ordained a priest on December 18, 1954. Immediately afterwards, he began to teach, but without neglecting his studies and commitment to pastoral work.

He graduated with a degree in theology and history at the Università della Sorbona, defending a thesis regarding the relationship between reason and faith and between Church and State. He obtained a diploma from the Scuola di Alti Studi, in the section of religious Science, and he was then given numerous responsibilities. During 1959 to 1971, he was the official secretary of state and chaplain of the Institute St. Dominic in Rome. As such, he was presented at the solemn opening of the work of the Second Vatican Council and he carried out his service alongside John XXIII and Paul IV.

Returning to France, he carried out the role of rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris for ten years. On February 2, 1979, he was elected titular bishop of Usula and in the meantime, was nominated auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Paris. He was ordained a bishop on April 6 of the following year, and in the same time period was called to be part of the College of Members of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and of the Secretariat for non-Christians.

He was vice-president of the Society of Church History in France, member of the Superior Council of the practical school of Alti Studi and of the Alto Comitato of the French language and of the Academy of Fine Letters, Sciences and Arts in Angers. With this activity, he received numerous recognitions like the Great Cardinal Grente prize of the French Academy, knighthood in the Legion of Honour and many others.
Aside from being an author of numerous essays, he collaborated with the edition of different and qualified collective works. He also offered his collaboration with studies and articles to the most prestigious journals of catholic culture in the world.
On June 27, 1980, when he held the office of auxiliary of Paris, John Paul II promoted him to archbishop calling him to assume the role of pro-president of the Secretariat for Non- Believers. Two years later, he combined to this responsibility that of president of the executive committee of the newly formed Pontifical Council of Culture.

Appointed Cardinal by John Paul II, from May 27, 1985 he held the role of President of the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers until April 4, 1993, when the aforementioned merged with the Pontifical Council of the Culture.
From April 1988 to September 2007, he was President of the Pontifical Council of the Culture.

In March 2006, the Holy Father Benedict XVI, with the intent to favour a more intense dialogue between men of culture and representatives of the various religions, unified the presidency of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue with that of the Pontifical Council of the Culture, nominating Card. Poupard president also of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. He maintained this responsibility until June 25, 2007.