Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lyon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Archdiocese of Lyon Archidiœcesis Lugdunensis Archidiocèse de Lyon
Lyon Cathedral
Location
Country	France
Territory	Rhône, Loire
Ecclesiastical province	Lyon
Statistics
Area	5,087 km2 (1,964 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2016) 1,936,940 1,240,272 (64%)
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	150
Cathedral	Primatial Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Lyon
Patron saint	St. Irenaeus of Lyon Saint Pothinus
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop	Olivier de Germay
Auxiliary Bishops	Patrick Le Gal Loïc Lagadec Thierry Brac de La Perrière
Emeritus Bishops	Philippe Barbarin
Map

The Archdiocese of Lyon is a major area of the Catholic Church in France. It is led by an archbishop. The archbishops of Lyon are seen as the successors to Saint Pothinus and Irenaeus, who were the first two bishops of Lyon. They are also known as the "primates of Gaul," which means they hold a very important position in the French church. Often, the archbishop of Lyon is also made a cardinal. As of October 22, 2020, Olivier de Germay is the archbishop.

History of the Archdiocese of Lyon

Early Challenges: Persecution of Christians

In the year 177, Christians in Lyon faced a difficult time. They were persecuted, meaning they were treated badly and punished for their beliefs. Many people were killed for being Christian. Among them were Saint Blandina and Saint Pothinus, who was the first Bishop of Lyon.

Saint Pothinus was sent to Gaul (the old name for France) around the middle of the 2nd century. After his death, the famous Saint Irenaeus became the next bishop, serving from 177 to 202. A very old letter, written by the Christians of Vienne and Lyon, tells the story of this persecution. It is considered a key document for understanding the start of Christianity in France.

Important Places and People in Early Lyon

Some historians believe the martyrs of Lyon died on the Hill of Saint Sebastian. However, a very old tradition says the church of Ainay was built where they were killed.

You can still visit the prison cell where Saint Pothinus was held. Many important people, like Louis XIV and Pius VII, have prayed there. The crypt of Saint Irenaeus, built in the late 5th century, holds his body. Lyon has many old Christian burial sites, with the earliest one dating back to 334 AD.

In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Lyon was a very important center for Christianity in Gaul. However, its importance lessened for a while when the Roman Empire changed its provincial organization.

Bishops During the Merovingian Period

During the time of the Merovingian kings (a period in early French history), many saints served as Bishops of Lyon. These included Saint Justus (374-381), who was known for fighting against a belief called Arianism.

Other important bishops were Saint Eucherius (around 433–450), a monk who likely started the "hermitages" in Lyon. Saint Patiens (456-498) helped fight against famine and Arianism.

Later, Saint Sacerdos (549-552) helped start the general hospital in Lyon. Saint Nicetius (552-573) received the title of "patriarch" from the pope. His successor, Saint Priscus (573-588), also held this title.

Ætherius (588-603) was in contact with Saint Gregory the Great. He might have even consecrated Saint Augustine, who brought Christianity to England.

Lyon Under Charlemagne

After the Merovingian period, Charlemagne helped restore Lyon after it was damaged. He also established a rich library there. The school in Lyon became very famous, attracting students from other countries.

Under Charlemagne and his successors, the Bishops of Lyon became very influential. They often led important church councils. They played a big role in theological discussions.

For example, Leidrade (798-814) and Agobard (814-840) strongly opposed a belief called Adoptionism. Agobard, who became Archbishop in 814, wrote a long book against this idea.

Agobard's Influence and Challenges

Agobard was a very active leader. He spoke out against certain superstitions. However, he also wrote some controversial texts that led to him being removed from his position for a few years. He was later restored and died in 840.

After Agobard, other archbishops like Amolon (841-852) and Saint Remy (852-875) continued to fight against heresies.

From 879 to 1032, Lyon was part of the Kingdom of Burgundy. Later, the city became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The Archbishops of Lyon then began to claim ruling rights over the city. This led to conflicts with local counts.

Reforms and Primacy of Lyon

In 1055, Cardinal Hildebrand (who later became Pope Gregory VII) held a council in Lyon to fight against corruption in the church. In 1076, as Pope Gregory VII, he removed Archbishop Humbert for buying his church office.

Saint Gebuin (1077–1082) became archbishop and was a close friend of Pope Gregory VII. He helped reform the Church. It was during his time that Gregory VII declared the Church of Lyon to be the most important church in France. This special status was later confirmed by other popes.

Hugh of Die (1081–1106), the next archbishop, was a friend of Saint Anselm. He also helped consecrate the church of Ainay Abbey. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception was celebrated in Lyon around 1128.

Archbishops Gain and Lose Power

In 1157, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa confirmed that the Archbishops of Lyon had ruling power over the city. This led to many conflicts between the archbishops and the local counts.

Eventually, the citizens of Lyon also wanted more say in how their city was run. By 1193, the archbishop had to give some power to the people. The 13th century was a time of many fights between the archbishop's supporters, the count-canons, and the townspeople.

Finally, in 1312, a treaty officially made Lyon part of the Kingdom of France. However, the Church of Lyon was allowed to make its own money until the early 15th century.

Lyon: A "Second Rome"

Even though the archbishops lost some political power, Lyon became a very important religious center. It was sometimes called a "second Rome." Several popes, like Innocent IV and Gregory X, sought safety in Lyon. They also held two major church councils there.

It's said that the idea for cardinals to wear red hats came from seeing the red hats of the canons (church officials) in Lyon during the time of Innocent IV. Innocent IV also encouraged many public works in Lyon, like building a bridge over the Rhône River and improving the churches of St. John and St. Justus.

Later, two popes, Clement V (1305) and Pope John XXII (1310), were crowned in Lyon. In 1449, an antipope (someone who claimed to be pope but wasn't recognized by everyone), antipope Felix V, gave up his claim in Lyon.

In the 16th century, Lyon saw some religious conflicts. Calvinists (Protestants) took control of the city twice but were driven out. It was also in Lyon that Henry IV of France, a king who converted to Catholicism, married Marie de' Medici in 1600.

Later History and Important Figures

Many important religious figures lived or died in Lyon. Saint Francis de Sales died there in 1622. In the 17th century, a priest named Curé Colombet de St. Amour was known for his generosity. He founded a charity hospital and free schools, and he fed workers during a famine in 1693.

Lyon also had a unique tradition of "hermitages" during the Middle Ages. These were small cells where people would live alone for life after a trial period, dedicating themselves to prayer. This practice was popular from the 11th to the 13th century.

The general charity hospital of Lyon was founded in 1532 after a big famine. It was managed by important citizens.

The cathedral of St. John in Lyon has a special "great jubilee" celebration. This happens when the feast of Saint John the Baptist falls on the same day as Corpus Christi. This special event was first celebrated with great splendor in 1451.

Changes in the 1800s and 1900s

In 1801, the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Lyon were changed. It then included the departments of Rhône, Loire, and Ain. It also took on the titles of two other important church areas that were closed down.

In 1970, a new diocese called Saint-Étienne was created from part of the Archdiocese of Lyon's territory. In 2006, the Archdiocese's name returned to simply Lyon.

Saints of the Diocese of Lyon

The Diocese of Lyon honors many saints, including:

• Saint Epipodius and Saint Alexander, who were likely martyrs.
• The priest Saint Peregrinus (3rd century).
• Saint Baldonor (died around 760), a locksmith whose piety was noticed by a bishop.
• Saint Viator (died around 390), who followed Bishop Saint Justus to Egypt.
• Saints Romanus and Lupicinus (5th century), who lived as hermits.
• Saint Consortia (died around 578), said to be a daughter of Saint Eucherius.
• Saint Rambert, a soldier and martyr in the 7th century.
• Blessed Jean Pierre Néel, born in 1832, who was martyred in 1862.

Suffragan Dioceses

A "suffragan" diocese is one that is part of a larger church province, but is not the main one. The Archdiocese of Lyon is the main diocese (metropolitan) for several others.

Dioceses under Lyon

• Annecy
• Belley-Ars
• Archdiocese of Chambéry
• Grenoble-Vienne
• Saint-Étienne
• Valence (-Die-Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux)
• Viviers

Other Provinces under Lyon's Primacy

As "Primate of the Gauls," the Archbishop of Lyon also has a special role over other church provinces, including:

• Rouen
• Tours
• Sens (this was a former province under Lyon)

Leaders of the Archdiocese

Early Bishops of Lyon

incomplete list

• Saint Pothinus ( –177)
• Saint Irenaeus

Archbishops of Lyon

incomplete list

Primates of Gauls and Archbishops of Lyon

• 1077–1082 Saint Gebuin
• 1081–1106 Hugh of Die
• 1128–1129 Renaud of Semur
• 1131–1139 Peter I
• fl. 1180 Guichard of Pontigny
• 1193–1226 Renaud de Forez
• 1227–1234 Robert of Auvergne
• 1289 Bérard de Got
• 1290–1295 Louis of Naples
• 1301–1308 Louis de Villars
• 1308–1332 Peter of Savoy
• 1340–1342 Guy III d'Auvergne, Cardinal de Boulogne
• 1342–1354 Henri II de Villars
• 1356–1358 Raymond Saquet
• 1358–1365 Guillaume II de Thurey
• 1365–1375 Charles d'Alençon
• 1375–1389 Jean II de Talaru
• 1389–1415 Philippe III de Thurey
• 1415–1444 Amédée II de Talaru
• 1444–1446 Geoffroy II de Versailles
• 1447–1488 Charles II of Bourbon
• 1488–1499 Hugues II de Talaru
• 1499–1500 André d'Espinay (cardinal)
• 1501–1536 François II de Rohan
• 1537–1539 John, Cardinal of Lorraine
• 1539–1551 Ippolito II d'Este
• 1551–1562 Cardinal François de Tournon
• 1562–1564 Ippolito II d'Este
• 1564–1573 Antoine d'Albon
• 1573–1599 Pierre d'Epinac
• 1612–1626 Denis-Simon de Marquemont
• 1628–1653 Alphonse-Louis du Plessis de Richelieu
• 1653–1693 Camille de Neufville de Villeroy
• 1714–1731 François-Paul de Neufville de Villeroy
• 1732–1739 Charles-François de Châteauneuf de Rochebonne
• 1740–1758 Pierre Guérin de Tencin
• 1758–1788 Antoine de Malvin de Montazet
• 1788–1799 Yves-Alexandre de Marbeuf
• 1791–1794 Antoine-Adrien Lamourette

Primates of Gauls and Archbishops of Lyon-Vienne

• (Cardinal) Joseph Fesch (1802 – 1839)
• (Cardinal) Joachim-Jean d'Isoard (1839)
• (Cardinal) Louis-Jacques-Maurice de Bonald (1839 – 1870)
• Jacques-Marie Ginoulhiac (1870 – 1875)
• (Cardinal) Louis-Marie Caverot (1876 – 1887)
• (Cardinal) Joseph-Alfred Foulon (1887 – 1893)
• (Cardinal) Pierre-Hector Coullie (1893 – 1912)
• (Cardinal) Hector Sévin (1912 – 1916)
• (Cardinal) Louis-Joseph Maurin (1916 – 1936)
• (Cardinal) Pierre-Marie Gerlier (1937 – 1965)
• (Cardinal) Jean-Marie Villot (1965 – 1967)
• (Cardinal) Alexandre Renard (1967 – 1981)
• (Cardinal) Albert Decourtray (1981 – 1994)
• (Cardinal) Jean Marie Balland (1995 – 1998)
• (Cardinal) Louis-Marie Billé (1998 – 2002)
• (Cardinal) Philippe Barbarin (2002 – 2020)
• Olivier de Germay (2020 – present)

See also

• Catholic Church in France
• History of Lyon