Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, the Archbishop of Algiers, is a French-born Dominican prelate known for his progressive views that include advocating a re-evaluation of the Church’s treatment of civilly remarried divorcees, calling for a women’s diaconate, and normalizing homosexual relationships in the Church.

Born on March 10, 1962, in Lyon, France, Vesco earned a law degree and went on to practice law in Lyon for seven years before experiencing a significant change in his life path. In 1995, he joined the Dominican Order, taking his vows on September 14, 1996. He was ordained priest on June 24, 2001.

Vesco’s connection with Algeria began in 2002 when he moved to Tlemcen, reestablishing the Dominican presence in the Diocese of Oran six years after the assassination of Bishop Pierre Claverie.¹On August 1, 1996, a few weeks after the assassination of the Trappist monks of Tibhirine, the Dominican bishop was assassinated, along with his driver and friend Mohamed Bouchikhi (1975-1996), when a bomb exploded at the entrance to the bishopric His dedication to the region led to several important roles, including serving as vicar general of the diocese from 2005 to 2010 and as diocesan treasurer from 2007 to 2010.

In December 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Vesco as the Bishop of Oran, a position he held until 2021. During his tenure, in 2018, he organized the beatification of 19 Algerian martyrs who included Bishop Claverie and the Trappist monks of Tibhirine.

In December, 2021, Pope Francis appointed Vesco as the Archbishop of Algiers, further cementing his importance in the region. In a remarkable development, on February 27, 2023, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted Vesco Algerian citizenship by presidential decree, a rare honor for a foreigner.

Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals on December 7, 2024.

Vesco is well known for his progressive views within the Church. In 2015, he called for a re-evaluation of the Church’s treatment of divorced Catholics who remarry, stating that the current discipline “troubled” and even “revolted” him due to what he saw as unnecessary suffering that it inflicts on individuals without considering their unique situations.

Regarding his pastoral approach to “LGBTQ” individuals and same-sex couples, Vesco endorsed the Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans. As part of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA), he supported a statement affirming that couples in “irregular situations” would be given blessings per the declaration. The statement emphasized that everyone deserves unconditional respect under the Gospel, and the Church should focus on welcoming, listening, praying with, and accompanying people on a path of growth and conversion.

Notably, Vesco stressed that CERNA’s statement was issued because they did not subscribe to an earlier one put out by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). That statement, issued on behalf of all Africa’s bishops, effectively rejected Fiducia Supplicans. Vesco said CERNA’s statement was prompted because SECAM’s letter “is not what we intended to convey to our dioceses.”

Vesco has expressed support for synodality in that he wishes to see increased sharing of responsibility and accountability in Church governance. He believes that responsibility in the Church increases as it is shared, and that the Church suffers from a deficit of accountability. He advocates for thinking of the Church more as a community of brothers and sisters, emphasizing fraternity over power struggles

While not explicitly addressing women’s ordination, Vesco has expressed strong support for expanding women’s roles in the Church. He supports the idea of a female diaconate and wishes to see it implemented. He also advocates allowing women and trained lay people to comment on the Word of God during Sunday celebrations. Vesco believes the Church needs to think about women’s roles not just in terms of complementarity but also in terms of otherness, reflecting societal changes in how tasks and responsibilities are shared.

As Archbishop of Algiers in a predominantly Muslim country, Vesco has been a strong proponent of interfaith dialogue and fostering fraternity between different religious communities. He has expressed his intention to remain in Algeria for the rest of his life, viewing his role as a bridge between cultures and faiths.

In December 2024, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco spent his second evening as a cardinal sharing a meal with the poor in Rome. Together with other volunteers, he distributed a dinner and small gifts to the homeless just outside St. Peter’s colonnade.