Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, O.F.M. Conv., Bishop of Ajaccio (France), was born on 23 November 1968 in Pamplona, Spain.

He entered the Minor Seminary in Baztán, Navarra, and began his postulancy in the Order of Conventual Franciscans in Padua, Italy, where he completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Sant’Antonio Dottore Theological Institute, graduating in theology from the Institut Catholique de Toulouse in 1997.

He gave his solemn profession on 20 September 1992 and was ordained a priest on 10 September 1994. In the same year, he founded Saint Bonaventure friary in Narbonne, France, with some of his brethren.

He has held the following positions: guardian of the Franciscan Community of Narbonne (1994-2018); parish priest of Saint Bonaventure in Narbonne (1994-2007); provincial Custos of France and Belgium (2006-2018); parish priest in solidum of Sainte-Croix in Narbonnais and member of the Episcopal Council of the diocese of Carcassonne et Narbonne (2007-2018); episcopal vicar for Narbonnais-Corbières, and delegate for new spirituality movements and for interreligious dialogue (2012-2018). From 2018 until his appointment as bishop, he was custodian of the Saint-Maximilien Kolbe Convent in Lourdes, episcopal delegate for the sanctuary of Lourdes and for the protection of minors, and since 2020, member of the episcopal council of the diocese of Tarbes et Lourdes.

On 11 May 2021, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Ajaccio. He was consecrated on 13 June 2021 in the cathedral of Ajaccio.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 30 September 2023, of the Title of Santa Maria Immacolata di Lourdes a Boccea.

Member of:

• Dicastery for the Clergy.