Gérard Bessière

Gérard Bessière (; 27 January 1928 – 8 December 2024) was a French diarist, poet, priest of the Diocese of Cahors, onetime national chaplain for the teaching staff of university parish, journalist of the weekly magazine La Vie, and author of numerous books on spirituality. He retired to a village in Lot.

Life and career Bessière was born in Luzech, Lot, in south-western France. His studies took place at the seminaries in Gourdon, in Cahors and the Institut Catholique de Paris. He collaborated with the publishing house Éditions du Cerf, for which he created the collection . Together with Hyacinthe Vulliez he founded the magazine . He made headlines in 2009 by excommunicating the pope.

Bessière was particularly interested in research on Jesus; he published several works at Éditions du Cerf, including , , , ; and a richly illustrated monograph , published in the collection "Découvertes Gallimard".

Bessière died on 8 December 2024, at the age of 96.

Selected publications Where is the Pope?, 1974 Jesus Ahead, Burns and Oates, 1977 Alors Jésus s'assit et dit…, collection « Contes du Ciel et de la Terre ». Gallimard Jeunesse, 1993 Jesus Sat Down and Said…, Creative Education, 1997 Jésus : Le dieu inattendu, collection « Découvertes Gallimard » (nº 170), série Religions. Éditions Gallimard, 1993. With Francesco Chiovaro, Urbi et Orbi : Deux mille ans de papauté, collection « Découvertes Gallimard » (nº 269), série Religions. Éditions Gallimard, 1995. With Hyacinthe Vulliez, Frère François : Le saint d'Assise, collection « Découvertes Gallimard » (nº 354), série Religions. Éditions Gallimard, 1998. " L'Enfant hérétique ", 2004. Edition Albin Michel. " Jésus est à tout le monde " 2009. Edition Les Amis de Crespiat.