Albert Vanhoye


Albert Vanhoye, SJ is a priest of the Society of Jesus. He was created cardinal in 2006. He led the 2008 Lenten Papal and Curial Retreat.

Formation and studies

Vanhoye was born on 24 July 1923 at Hazebrouck, France. During World War II in Occupied France, Vanhoye was made to work in a factory producing gunpowder for the German war effort. Albert Vanhoye entered the Society of Jesus in 1941 and studied at Jesuit Scholasticates in France and Belgium, as well as obtaining a licentiate and doctorate in sacred scripture with a thesis on the Letter to the Hebrews, from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. He was ordained priest on 25 July 1954.

Teaching and research

After a stint at the French Jesuit study house of Chantilly, he became Professor of Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in 1963 and served as its Rector from 1984 to 1990. He retired in 1998. His research and teaching dealt with the New Testament Letters, in particular the Letter to the Hebrews. During his years at the Biblicum he directed 29 theses. For a number of years he was also the Secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. After 1998 he remained a Consultor for a number of dicasteries of the Roman Curia until his appointment to the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal

He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria della Mercede e Sant'Adriano a Villa Albani by Pope Benedict XVI at the consistory of 24 March 2006. Having obtained a dispensation, he was not consecrated bishop on his elevation to cardinal. Cardinal Vanhoye's coat of arms were designed by American ecclesiastical heraldic artist George N. Cannizzaro.
In November 2010 Cardinal Vanhoye was appointed by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro as Ecclesiastical Counsellor to the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies having previously served as Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
Since the death of Cardinal Etchegaray on 4 September 2019, Vanhoye has been the oldest living member of the College of Cardinals.

Main works