Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Bordeaux (France), was born on 25 September 1944 in Marseille, France. He was ordained a priest on 5 October 1968.

On 17 April 1993 he was appointed titular Bishop of Pulcheriopolis and Auxiliary of Grenoble. He received episcopal ordination on 6 June of the same year. On 4 July 1996 he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Montpellier, and on 6 September of that year he was made Bishop of the diocese.

In 1999 he went to Peru to visit the fidei donum priest of Montpellier, Fr. André Bésinet. In 2000 he went to Lebanon to meet with political and religious leaders.

On 21 December 2001 he was appointed Archbishop of Bordeaux.

Cardinal Ricard has worked hard to further relations with Jews and to revive bonds between the Church of France and in Africa, setting up an "African sector" and a "European sector" within the presidency of the Bishops’s Conference.

In 2003 he published a book called Sept défis pour l’Eglise (Seven Challenges for the Church).

He has participated in the Synod of Bishops on the ministry of the Bishop (2001) and on the Eucharist (2005).

President of the Bishops’ Conference of France (6 November 2001 - 5 November 2007).

Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) (October 2006 - October 2011).

On 8 March 2014 Pope Francis appointed him as Member ad quinquennium of the Council for the Economy.

He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 March 2006, of the Title of Sant’Agostino (St. Augustine).

Member of:

• Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.