Luc Ravel

Luc Marie Daniel Ravel, C.R.S.V. (born 21 May 1957) is a French prelate of the Catholic Church, who was the Archbishop of Strasbourg from 2017 to 2023, when he resigned at the age of 66. He was bishop of the Diocese of the French Armed Forces from 2009 to 2017.

Early life Ravel was born in Paris on 21 May 1957

He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of the French Armed Forces by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 October 2009.

He received his episcopal consecration in Notre Dame Cathedral on 29 November 2009 from Cardinal André Vingt-Trois. He was elected a member of the Doctrinal Commission of the Bishops' Conference of France in 2011.

Writing in the monthly magazine of his chaplaincy in February 2015, Ravel called abortion a "weapon of mass destruction" and called for the return of the abortion debate in French society. In response, the French Defence Minister asked the Diocese's magazine to stop displaying the Army's logo on the cover so as to distance the Army from its content.

Ravel was appointed Archbishop of Strasbourg on 18 February 2017.

His tenure in Strasbourg proved turbulent, as he was criticized for an authoritarian management style and neglect of his duties. He was the only French bishop to support French President Emmanuel Macron in the 2022 election and skipped the annual chrism Mass to attend a Macron rally. He supported the work of the Missionaries of Divine Mercy to evangelize Muslims, a controversial approach in contrast to interfaith dialog. His dismissal of several senior diocesan officials provoked concern, In response to complaints the Vatican conducted an apostolic visitation of the Strasbourg archdiocese in the summer of 2022. Ravel then resisted when his resignation was demanded. In late March 2023, he removed his vicar general, who was thought a likely candidate to manage the archdiocese if Ravel resigned. (Ravel removed his auxiliary as vicar general citing the mishandling of the case of a priest convicted of sexual abuse, though he did not explain what Kratz's responsibility was.)

Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 27 May 2023 and named Archbishop-Bishop of Metz to administer the archdiocese. Macron's consent, given on 24 May, was published the same day. Because the appointment of Strasbourg's archbishop is governed by the Concordat of 1801, Ravel's removal required the assent of the French president, which Ravel had hoped would not be forthcoming.