Archbishop of Bourges
Archbishop Sylvain Jean-Luc Bataille, Archbishop of Bourges, France, has been Archbishop of Bourges since 2025. He was born on 22 July 1964. He studied philosophy at the Seminary of Paray-le-Monial and theology at the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome, and obtained a degree in theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris. The French conference profile also records a scientific baccalaureate, the French Seminary in Rome, the Higher Institute of Liturgy at the Institut Catholique de Paris, and a canonical licentiate in theology with option in liturgy and sacramental theology. He was ordained a priest on 11 March 1989 for the Diocese of Beauvais. His ministries included parish vicar in Beauvais and member of the diocesan vocations service from 1990 to 1995; chaplain of public education in Beauvais from 1990 to 1995; pastor in Grandvilliers and head of the missionary sector of the Norman Oise from 1995 to 2000; member of the episcopal council of Beauvais from 1999 to 2000; member of the Saint-Jean-Marie Vianney Society in 1993; superior of the first cycle of the Seminary of the Saint-Jean-Marie Vianney Society in Ars from 2000 to 2003; superior of the seminary of the Saint-Jean-Marie Vianney Society in Ars from 2003 to 2009; rector of the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome from 2009 to 2014; pastor of Saint-François du Vexin Parish from 2014 to 2015; vicar general of the Diocese of Beauvais from 2015 to 2016; member of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy and Sacramental Pastoral Care from 2016 to 2022; Bishop of Saint-Étienne from 2016 to 2025; and member of the Permanent Council of the French Bishops' Conference from 2022 to 2025. He is also recorded as a member of the Council for Resources and Means. He was appointed Bishop of Saint-Étienne on 18 May 2016 and received episcopal ordination on 3 July 2016, recorded in the second profile as 03 July 2016.