Théas Pierre

Théas, Monsignor Pierre Marie File 197a The Bishop of Montauban, Monsignor Théas, like the Archbishop of Toulouse, Monsignor Saliège (q.v.), wrote a vigorous condemnation of the Vichy regime’s antisemitic policies and instructed all parish priests in his diocese to read it aloud on Sunday, August 30, 1942. Among other things he said, “I proclaim that all men, Aryan or non-Aryan, are brothers because they are created by the same God. ... The present antisemitic measures are an insult to human dignity, a violation of the most sacred personal and family rights.” Bishop Théas was aware of the pressures and threats exerted by the authorities on Archbishop Saliège in their attempt to prevent publication of his protest. Not only did he protest publicly, he opened the doors of the Episcopal Palace to activists in Jewish rescue organizations and provided a room to be used as a workshop for forging documents. He also instructed the heads of the Catholic institutions in his diocese to hide Jews. In early June 1944, he refused to receive Marshal Pétain when he paid an official visit to Montauban. Bishop Théas was arrested on June 9, 1944, and interned in the camp at Compiègne until the liberation. On July 8, 1969, Yad Vashem recognized Monsignor Pierre Marie Théas as Righteous Among the Nations.