Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop emeritus of Lyon (France), was born on 17 October 1950 in Rabat, Morocco. He was ordained a priest on 17 December 1977 for the Diocese of Créteil, France, and holds degrees in philosophy and theology.

Cardinal Barbarin served as vicar and chaplain for students in Vincennes and as a student chaplain and parochial vicar in Saint-Maur. In Boissy-Saint-Léger he served as parish priest and as chaplain for students and was the diocesan delegate for ecumenism.

He was a fidei donum priest and lecturer of theology at the Major Seminary of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar, as well as a parish priest of Bry-sur-Marne.

On 1 October 1998, John Paul II nominated him as Bishop of Moulins, and the Archbishop of Fianarantsoa conferred episcopal ordination on him on 22 November 1998.

He was promoted to the see of Lyon on 16 July 2002.

Cardinal Barbarin is chancellor of the Catholic University of Lyon.

He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the St. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 October 2003, of the Title of SS.ma Trinità al Monte Pincio (the Most Holy Trinity in Monte Pincio).