Gerlier Pierre-Marie

Gerlier, Cardinal Pierre Marie File 1769 Cardinal Pierre Marie Gerlier headed the Catholic Church in the diocese of Lyons. He held the distinguished title, Primate of All Gaul, and held the highest rank in the Catholic hierarchy in France. Gerlier, was a supporter of Marshal Pétain and urged his flock to support the leader. However, he expressed moderate but public criticism of the Vichy regime’s anti-Jewish policies. On September 3, 1942, the German command in France reported that, according to Prime Minister Pierre Laval, “The demands that we made regarding the Jewish question have met with unparalleled opposition on the part of the Church, the head of that opposition being Cardinal Gerlier.” Together with Marc Boegner (q.v.), the head of the Protestant church in France, Gerlier was honorary president of the Amitié Chrétienne, an organization established in Lyons, in 1941, to defend victims of the Vichy regime. On August 30, 1942, the authorities pressured the leaders of the Amitié Chrétienne to hand over 108 Jewish children that they were suspected of illegally removing from Venissieux camp. Gerlier gave his support the rescuers and the children were saved. Cardinal Gerlier also intervened with the Gestapo to obtain the release of Jean-Marie Soutou (q.v.), an Amitié Chrétienne leader who was arrested in January 1943, imprisoned, and interrogated on suspicion of hiding Jews. On July 15, 1981, Yad Vashem recognized Cardinal Pierre Marie Gerlier as Righteous Among the Nations.