About Pierre Mamie
Lived 1920 – 2008 (aged 88). Pierre Mamie was a Swiss university teacher, catholic priest and catholic bishop.
Pierre Mamie (4 March 1920 – 14 March 2008) was a Swiss prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the bishop of the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg from 1970 to 1995, following two years as auxiliary bishop there. His earlier career was devoted to teaching at the Fribourg seminary and at the University of Fribourg.
Biography Pierre Mamie was born into a family of modest means on 4 March 1920 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He was educated at the Collège Saint-Michel in Fribourg and the major seminary there. He was ordained a priest in 1946. He later called the Council "God's greatest gift to the world in the 20th century". Reminiscing in the 21st century, he said: He received his episcopal consecration on 6 October from Journet.
On 29 December 1970, he was named bishop of that diocese. His appointment was not welcomed by all parties, as there were tensions and divisions about the liturgical innovations proceeding from the Council, the provocative presence of Lefebvre's seminary on one hand, and attacks by theologians at the University of Fribourg against Pope Paul's recent encyclical condemning artificial birth control on the other, notably from the theologian .
Mamie determined that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), established on an experimental basis by his predecessor Bishop François Charrière in 1970, should be suppressed. On 24 January 1975, he asked the prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Religious, Cardinal Arturo Tabera, to do so. Tabera responded in April expressing full agreement and telling Mamie to proceed himself, and Mamie suppressed the SSPX on 6 May 1975, effective immediately.
In 1976, Mamie warned Lefebvre that saying Mass though Catholic Church authorities had forbidden him from exercising his priestly functions would further exacerbate his relationship with Rome.
From 1973 to 2000 he was a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He served two terms as head of the Conference of Swiss Bishops. He devoted his life in retirement to editing the works of Cardinal Journet for publication,
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Pierre Mamie's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Pierre Mamie's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Pierre Mamie?
Swiss bishop (1920-2008)
When was Pierre Mamie born?
Pierre Mamie was born on 4 March 1920 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
When did Pierre Mamie die?
Pierre Mamie died on 14 March 2008 in Villars-sur-Glâne.
What was Pierre Mamie's occupation?
Pierre Mamie was a university teacher, catholic priest and catholic bishop.
What nationality was Pierre Mamie?
Pierre Mamie was Swiss.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Pierre Mamie. https://biography.guide/pierre-mamie/
MLA: "Pierre Mamie." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/pierre-mamie/.
Chicago: "Pierre Mamie." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/pierre-mamie/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:24 UTC