Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, the Bishop of Ajaccio, Corsica, since 2021, is a French Catholic prelate of Spanish origin who has shown himself to be acutely aware of the crisis in the Church and hopeful about its resolution.

A moderate reformist whose vision for the Church largely aligns with that of Pope Francis, he is a member of the Conventual Franciscans and was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Francis on September 30, 2023.

Born on November 23, 1968, in Pamplona, Spain, Bustillo is one of the youngest members of the College of Cardinals.

He entered the minor seminary of Baztan, Navarre, before joining the Order of Conventual Franciscans in Padua, Italy. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Istituto Teologico Sant’Antonio Dottore in Padua and earned a licentiate in theology from the Catholic University of Toulouse in 1997.

Throughout his career, Bustillo has held several significant positions. In 1994, he was part of the team that included controversial Conventual Franciscan Friar Daniel Marie Thevenet that established the Convent of Saint Bonaventure in Narbonne, France.

From 2006 to 2018, he served as the Provincial Custos of the Conventual Franciscans for France and Belgium. He also worked in the diocese of Carcassonne-Narbonne, where he was a parish priest, a member of the diocesan council, and an episcopal vicar.

In 2018, Bustillo was appointed guardian of the convent of Saint-Maximilien-Kolbe in Lourdes, France. On May 11, 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Ajaccio, and he received his episcopal consecration on June 13 of the same year.

He was elevated to cardinal on September 30, 2023, making him the first bishop of Ajaccio to receive this honor.

In April 2022, Pope Francis gave an Italian-language version of Bustillo’s book Witnesses, Not Officials to each of the priests attending the Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Holy Thursday. The book, originally published in French as La vocation du prêtre face aux crises: La fidélité créatrice, focuses on the challenges facing priestly ministry in today’s world and offers insights on how priests can be authentic witnesses of the Gospel rather than mere administrators.¹Some key points from the book: 1. It provides an analysis of the current reality facing the Church and priesthood, addressing both old and new challenges; it emphasizes the need for priests to be authentic Gospel witnesses in today’s world, rather than being perceived only in an official, authority-type capacity; Bustillo uses modern language and shares rich anecdotes to make his points accessible; the work includes biblical and philosophical citations, reflections on current events, and references to the Papal Magisterium; it addresses topics such as modesty, paternity, boredom, and political strategies, as well as new habits that have emerged from the pandemic; the book offers ideas for pastoral ministry and calls attention to challenges like voyeurism in social media and the risk of transforming parishes into mere administrative offices; Bustillo draws on a wide range of sources, quoting figures from Kierkegaard and Camus to Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King; the author uses the teachings of the Church, particularly from Benedict XVI and Francis, to explore the essence of priesthood, its foundation, vocation, and mission; The book’s central message appears to be encouraging priests to focus on being “bearers of life” and authentic witnesses to the Gospel in a rapidly changing world.

Bustillo has been the subject of controversy due to his ties with Thévenet. Inspired by the Charismatic Renewal, Thevenet has attracted criticism for “charismatic and mystical-spiritual excesses” such as his “healing prayers” and including them in the Mass, a practice which has been forbidden by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.  Bustillo was one of the three co-founders of the convent of Narbonne alongside Thevenet.

Bustillo has acknowledged tensions within the Catholic Church and said in 2023 that many Catholics are currently afraid. They are afraid of “growing secularism, afraid when the Pope calls for greater responsibility in front of the tragedies of migrants, afraid that he will upset the Church when he convenes a synod on its future,” Cardinal Bustillo said.

“We are in a ‘hope and love deficit’ inside the Church at the moment,” Cardinal Bustillo continued in comments to OSV News. “We divide ourselves instead of supporting one another.”

Bustillo is known for his positive outlook and inclusive approach to ministry. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity in Christian life, especially in secularized environments like France. He advocates unity within the Church, recognizing the beauty of differences and encouraging various expressions of faith. Bustillo has also played a significant role in promoting peace and reconciliation, particularly during times of tension in Corsica.

In the same OSV News interview, he showed tolerance for the traditional liturgy, possibly pointing to his own opposition to restrictions placed on it. “Some are attached to the traditional liturgy, others are more charismatic,” he said. “Ecclesial maturity is about everyone being what helps him become better. Some need the beauty of the liturgy – let them continue. Others need to reach out to the world – let them. Differences are beautiful and should not lead to division.”

On the crisis in the Church, he said: “There have always been lean times in the Church” but added: “I am confident! The Church is not dead! She can provide abundant values of life and joy in a society bathed in vagueness.”

Cardinal Bustillo is multilingual. He speaks French with a unique accent that reflects his diverse background, and is said to speak Spanish and Italian fluently.