Archbishop Jean-Louis Marie Balsa

Archbishop Jean-Louis Marie Balsa, Archbishop of Albi (-Castres-Lavaur), France, has been Archbishop of Albi since 2023. He was born on 17 March 1957, was ordained a priest on 09 September 1984, was appointed bishop on 22 May 2015, and was consecrated bishop on 12 September 2015. He is a member of the Commission for Dialogue, the Common Good, and Social Friendship. He is the son of Jean Balsa, deceased, and of Mrs. Balsa, born Janine Villette, merchants in the nautical sector. His formation includes a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Nice; university formation groups; a master's degree in theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris, Carmes Seminary; study at the École pratique des hautes études, Fifth Section, Paris; habilitation for the doctorate in theology at the Institut Catholique de Paris; and a DEA in religious anthropology at the Sorbonne, Paris IV. His ministries included responsibility for the working group The Service of the Unity of a Presbyterium; chaplain of the high schools and colleges of Cannes from 1985 to 1991; pastor of Valbonne, Biot, and Sophia-Antipolis from 1991 to 2001; episcopal vicar for youth pastoral ministry from 2001 to 2007; director of studies at the seminary of Laghet and professor of Trinitarian theology from 2002 to 2007; secretary general of the diocesan synod from 2007 to 2009; vicar general from 2009 to 2013; general delegate from 2013 to 2014; vicar general from 2014 to 2015; Bishop of Viviers from 2015 to 2023; member of the Episcopal Commission for Ordained Ministers and Lay People on Ecclesial Mission from 2016 to 2022; member of the Council for Interreligious Relations and New Religious Currents from 2022 to 2024; and administrator of the diocese of Viviers in 2023.