Jean Marie Balland

Jean Marie Julien Balland (26 July 1934 in Bué, Cher, France – 1 March 1998 in Lyon) was a Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of Lyon.

Early life

He entered the seminary and later attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he earned a licentiate in philosophy in 1956, and in theology.

After his ordination he was a faculty member of the seminary where he was ordained from 1962 to 1968. He was transferred, teaching at Tours from 1967 to 1973.

Episcopate Pope John Paul II appointed him as Bishop of Dijon on 6 November 1982. He was transferred to the Metropolitan see of Reims in 1988. Archbishop Balland was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest in the consistory of 21 February 1998 with the titular church of San Pietro in Vincoli.

He died of lung cancer on 1 March 1998, eight days after becoming a cardinal.