Julien Ries

His Eminence
Julien Ries
Cardinal-Deacon of Sant’Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia
Julien Ries
See Sant’Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia
Appointed 18 February 2012
Installed 20 October 2012
Term ended 23 February 2013
Orders
Ordination 12 August 1945
by André Marie Charue
Consecration 11 February 2012
by Giacinto Berloco
Created Cardinal 18 February 2012
Rank Cardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Birth name Julien Ries
Born (1920-04-19)19 April 1920
Fouches, near Arlon, Belgium
Died 23 February 2013(2013-02-23) (aged 92)
Tournai
Nationality Belgian
Denomination Roman Catholic
Previous post Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum (2012)
Motto caritas Christi urget nos
Coat of arms

Julien Ries (19 April 1920 – 23 February 2013) was a Belgian religious historian, titular archbishop and cardinal of the Catholic Church.[1][2] Prior to his death, Ries was described as "the greatest living religions scholar".[3]

Life

Born in Fouches, near Arlon, Belgium,[1] he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Namur on 12 August 1945.[4] After graduating with a doctorate of Philosophy and receiving a licentiate in philology and Oriental history from the Catholic University of Leuven, Ries taught at the university from 1960 to 1968. After the university split in 1968, he taught at the French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain, where he founded the Centre d'Histoire des Religions (which has recently been named after him).[5] During that period, he was also a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue from 1979 to 1985. In 1990, Ries retired from active work.

Among the non-specialists in the anglophone world he was most known for his series for young people Religions of Humanity which he edited with American anthropologist Lawrence E. Sullivan (Head of the Centre for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University from 1990 to 2003). Ries and Sullivan received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for these series in 2000.[6] Ries has developed a renewed religious anthropology in which the religious dimension of humankind is taken seriously. His conclusion was the same as that of the French paleontologist and co-discoverer of the Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis) Yves Coppens, with whom he collaborated, i.e. that human beings have been religious right from the beginning.[7]

In 2009, Ries donated his library, all his manuscripts, notes and documents relating to courses, and the correspondences he had with religious historians across the globe, to the Catholic University of Milan.[1]

On 6 January 2012, it was announced that Ries would be created a cardinal the next month,[1] and was appointed Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum on 23 January 2012. He received episcopal consecration at the parish church of Notre-Dame de la Visitation, in Villers-Notre-Dame, Hainaut on 11 February 2012.[4] The principal consecrator was Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, assisted by Bishop Rémy Victor Vancottem of Namur and Bishop Guy Harpigny of Tournai as principal co-consecrators.[4]

Ries was created Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory at St. Peter's Basilica on 18 February 2012.[4]

Distinctions

Orders

Academic

Fellowships

Other

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Miranda, Salvador. "Julien Ries". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  2. "Julien Ries tot kardinaal benoemd". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  3. "Testi religiosi, a Milano il primo archivio del mondo". Corriere Della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Archbishop Julien Ries". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  5. "Centre d'histoire des religions". Université catholique de Louvain (in French). Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  6. "Lawrence E. Sullivan". Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  7. "Mankind has been religious even from the time of the Australopithecus Lucy". Vatican Insider. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  8. "Doctor Honoris Causa". Giuseppe Nicoloro (in Italian). Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  9. "Honorary Life Members of the IAHR". International Association for the History of Religions. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Pietro Sambi
Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum
2012–2012
Succeeded by
José Rodríguez Carballo
New title Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia
2012–2013
Vacant
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