Cardinal Maurice Piat is a retired Mauritian bishop known for his dedication to pastoral work and his efforts in promoting basic ecclesial communities.

Born on July 19, 1941, in Moka, Mauritius as the youngest son of Maurice Piat and Alix Koenig, he grew up in the diocese of Port-Louis. He completed his secondary education at the Collège du Saint-Esprit in Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius.

Following his early education, Piat entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Ireland, where he made his religious profession on September 8, 1962. He then pursued higher education, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from University College, Dublin. Continuing his theological studies, Piat attended the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome and the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a licentiate in theology in 1972.

Piat was ordained priest on August 2, 1970. After his ordination, he briefly ministered in Bangalore, India, before returning to Mauritius. Back in his homeland, he took on various roles, including professor and catechist at the Collège du Saint-Esprit, and was responsible for aspiring seminarians at the Foyer Monseigneur-Murphy in Vacoas.

His ecclesiastical career progressed rapidly. On January 21, 1991, Piat was appointed coadjutor of the then-bishop of Port-Louis, Cardinal Jean Margéot, and received episcopal consecration on May 19 of the same year. He became the Bishop of Port Louis on March 13, 1993, a position he held until his retirement on May 19, 2023.

Throughout his tenure, Piat has held several significant positions within the Catholic Church hierarchy. He served as president of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean multiple times and has been a member of the Standing Committee of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) since 2000.

In recognition of his service and leadership, Pope Francis created and proclaimed Piat as Cardinal in the consistory of November 19, 2016, assigning him the titular church of Santa Teresa al Corso d’Italia.

Cardinal Piat’s influence extends beyond his home country. He has participated in important Church events, such as the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2015, which focused on the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and contemporary world.

Known for his dedication to pastoral work and his efforts in promoting basic ecclesial communities, Cardinal Maurice Piat has left an indelible mark on the Catholic Church in Mauritius and beyond, serving as a spiritual leader and guide for many faithful throughout his long and distinguished career.