Diocese of the French Armed Forces explained

Diocese of the French Armed Forces
Local:	Diocèse aux Armées Françaises
Country:	France
Territory:	The ordinariate extends to all countries where there are Catholic personnel in the French armies.
Denomination:	Catholic Church
Sui Iuris Church:	Latin Church
Rite:	Roman Rite
Established:	26 July 1952 (as Vicariate) 21 July 1986 (as Ordinariate)
Priests:	101 (Diocesan) 28 (Religious Orders) 9 Permanent Deacons (as of 2021)
Bishop Title:	Bishop
Bishop:	Antoine de Romanet
Website:	DioceseAuxArmees.fr

The Diocese of the French Armed Forces (fr|Diocèse aux Armées Françaises) is a Latin Church military ordinariate of the Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Catholics serving in the French Armed Forces and their families.

History

The post of military bishop was created in 1949, and a military vicariate was established on 26 July 1952. It was elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986. The cathedra is located at the Church of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides (L'Église Saint-Louis-des-Invalides) in Paris, France.^[1]

Office holders

Military bishops

• Maurice Feltin (appointed 29 October 1949 – became military vicar 26 July 1952)

Military vicars

• Maurice Feltin (appointed 26 July 1952 – retired 15 April 1967)
• Jean-Marie-Clément Badré (appointed 15 May 1967 – translated to the Diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux 10 December 1969)
• Gabriel Vanel (appointed 21 April 1970 – resigned 12 February 1983)
• Jacques Louis Marie Joseph Fihey (appointed 12 February 1983 – became military ordinary 21 July 1986)

Military ordinaries

• Jacques Louis Marie Joseph Fihey (appointed 21 July 1986 – translated to the Diocese of Countances-Avranches 22 April 1989)
• Michel Marie Jacques Dubost, C.I.M. (appointed 9 August 1989 – translated to the Diocese of Évry–Corbeil-Essonnes 15 April 2000)
• Patrick Le Gal (appointed 23 May 2000 – appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon 7 October 2009)
• Luc Marie Daniel Ravel, C.R.S.V.^[2] (appointed 7 October 2009 – translated to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Strasbourg, 18 February 2017)
• Antoine de Romanet^[3] (appointed 28 June 2017)

External links

• • Centre national des Archives de l'Église de France, L’Épiscopat francais depuis 1919, retrieved: 2016-12-24.
• Military Ordinariate of France (Catholic-Hierarchy)
• Diocèse aux Armées Françaises (France) (GCatholic.org)

48.8559°N 2.3126°W

Notes and References

1. https://www.kofc.org/en/news-room/columbia/2020/may/witness-st-joan-of-arc.html Knights of Columbus website, The Witness Of St. Joan Of Arc, by Father Pierre Amar, dated January 5th, 2020
2. https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/strasbourg-archbishop-tenders-resignation Pillar Catholic website, Strasbourg archbishop tenders resignation but defends tenure, article by Luke Coppen, dated April 20, 2023
3. https://www.ncregister.com/features/singing-spiritual-brothers-in-arms-4-military-chaplains-sing-songs-reflecting-the-glory-of-god National Catholic Register website, Singing Spiritual Brothers in Arms, article by Solène Tadié, dated August 2023