Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille is known for his warm nature and strong commitment to helping migrants and promoting dialogue. Pope Francis gave him the task of coordinating a church network focused on countries around the Mediterranean Sea. This region includes 22 nations from Africa, Asia, and Europe, all facing similar problems such as war, corruption, and large waves of migration.
This church network aims to bring people together and help create peace and justice. Cardinal Aveline has even suggested holding a special church meeting, or synod, focused only on the Mediterranean. He believes the Catholic Church should help build a better future in the region.
Cardinal Aveline was born in Algeria when it was still a French colony. His family fled to France when Algeria gained independence. Growing up in Marseille, a city full of immigrants, shaped how he sees people from different cultures and backgrounds. He believes that meeting people who are different helps form our identity and should be seen as a gift, not a problem.
He studied philosophy and theology in Paris and became a priest in 1984. Since then, he has always worked in Marseille. He was made a bishop in 2013, then archbishop in 2019, and a cardinal in 2022. In 2024, he became president of the French bishops’ conference, showing the trust his fellow bishops have in him.
Throughout his career, Cardinal Aveline has focused on education, forming future priests, and working with people of other religions. He created a special school for studying religion and led the Catholic Institute of the Mediterranean. His efforts to bring people together have earned him a lot of respect in his community.
He supports many of Pope Francis’ key goals, such as helping migrants, guiding young people, and fighting poverty and extremism. He has quietly sent church members to support rescue workers on the Aquarius, a ship that saves migrants at sea. He said the experience changed their lives.
Even when Pope Francis made changes to traditional Catholic Mass in 2022, Cardinal Aveline quickly reassured traditionalist Catholics in Marseille. He went to their parish himself to celebrate the old-style Mass, showing how he respects all members of the Church.
He also works closely with the large Muslim population in Marseille. He served as a Church advisor on interreligious dialogue and now leads similar efforts among French bishops. He is also part of Vatican groups that work on choosing bishops and building dialogue between religions.
Cardinal Aveline’s calm, kind, and uniting leadership makes him a powerful voice in the Church, especially as it plans its future through the Synod on Synodality. His life and work show a deep love for migrants, peace, and the power of dialogue.