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Georges Soubrier

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The Most Reverend

Georges Soubrier

P.S.S.
Bishop emeritus of Nantes
Bishop Soubrier in 2022
ChurchCatholic Church
DioceseNantes
SeeNantes
Appointed10 October 1996
Term ended8 July 2009
PredecessorÉmile Marcus
SuccessorJean-Paul James
Other postsTitular Bishop of Acholla (1988–1996)
Auxiliary Bishop of Paris (1988–1996)
Orders
Ordination29 June 1960
by Jean-Ernest Ménard
Consecration14 October 1988
by Jean-Marie Lustiger
Personal details
BornGeorges Pierre Soubrier
(1933-11-20) 20 November 1933 (age 92)
Thérondels, Aveyron, France
EducationInstitut Catholique de Paris

Georges Pierre Soubrier P.S.S. (born 20 November 1933) is a French Roman Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Nantes from 1996 to 2009. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of Paris and titular bishop of Acholla from 1988 to 1996. He is a member of the Society of Priests of Saint-Sulpice.[1]

Early life and priesthood

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Soubrier was born on 20 November 1933 in Thérondels, in the Aveyron department of southern France. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rodez on 29 June 1960 by Bishop Jean-Ernest Ménard.[1]

In 1961 he entered the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice. He subsequently devoted much of his priestly ministry to the education and formation of seminarians. From 1963 to 1966 he was professor of philosophy at the interdiocesan seminary of the Midi-Pyrénées region. He served as superior of its first-cycle seminary from 1966 to 1972, superior of the second-cycle Saint-Sulpice Seminary at Issy-les-Moulineaux from 1972 to 1983, and superior of the Carmes Seminary of the Institut Catholique de Paris from 1983 to 1988.[2]

Episcopal ministry

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On 25 June 1988, Soubrier was appointed auxiliary bishop of Paris and titular bishop of Acholla.[1][3] He was consecrated a bishop on 14 October 1988 at Notre-Dame de Paris by Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris, with Émile Marcus, P.S.S., and Roger Joseph Bourrat as co-consecrators.[1]

Soubrier served as auxiliary bishop of Paris for eight years. During this period he also held responsibilities within the French Bishops' Conference, including work concerning young people and ecclesial ministry.[2]

Bishop of Nantes

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On 10 October 1996, Soubrier was appointed bishop of Nantes, succeeding Émile Marcus.[1] He served as bishop for thirteen years. During his episcopate he promoted pastoral initiatives directed toward young people, including the Happy Day gatherings held in 2006 and 2009, each of which brought together more than 2,000 young people. He also recalled large diocesan Pentecost gatherings that attracted approximately 20,000 participants during the Jubilee year 2000 and in 2009.[2]

In June 2007, Soubrier was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in recognition of his engagement in civil society.[4]

Retirement

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Having reached the canonical retirement age of 75, Soubrier submitted his resignation as bishop of Nantes. On 8 July 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation under canon 401 §1 of the Code of Canon Law and appointed Jean-Paul James, then bishop of Beauvais, as his successor.[5]

After leaving Nantes, Soubrier returned to the Society of Saint-Sulpice and lived at the Foyer de la Solitude in Issy-les-Moulineaux. He described his post-retirement ministry as consisting principally of spiritual accompaniment, spiritual animation and retreats.[2]

In July 2025, Soubrier presided at Mass during a summer gathering of the Communauté Chrétienne Aveyronnaise de Paris in Rignac. The organizers described him as bishop emeritus of Nantes and a native of Thérondels.[6]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bishop Georges Pierre Soubrier, P.S.S." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "« Je rends grâce au Seigneur pour ce qu'il m'a été donné de vivre », interview de Mgr Soubrier". Église catholique en France. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  3. ↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. 80. Holy See. 1988. p. 1038. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Monseigneur Georges Soubrier, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur". Diocese of Nantes (archived by Wikiwix). 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "RINUNCE E NOMINE, 08.07.2009: Rinuncia del Vescovo di Nantes (Francia) e nomina del Successore". Holy See Press Office. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "24 juillet 2025 : CCAP - RENCONTRE D'ETE A RIGNAC & BOURNAZEL". Fédération des Aveyronnais d'Ici et d'Ailleurs. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
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