Bishop of Aire et Dax
Nicolas Souchu was born on July 25, 1958, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, in the Diocese of Nanterre. After classical studies, he attended the Faculty of Law and Economic Sciences at the University of Orléans, obtaining a *Maîtrise* (Master’s degree) in Economic and Social Administration in 1980, while simultaneously following university training courses for future priests (GFU). He subsequently completed his ecclesiastical studies at the Major Seminary of Orléans. In 1998, he obtained a Licentiate in Biblical and Systematic Theology from the Catholic Institute of Paris. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orléans on June 1, 1986. Following his ordination, he held the following ministerial positions: parochial vicar in Gien (1986–1992); *parochus in solidum* (joint pastor) of Orléans-Ouest—during which time he was also a member of the formation team at the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Orléans and, from 1995, Deputy Director of the *Centre d’Etude et de Réflexion chrétienne d’Orléans* (1992–1999); and pastor of Saint-Marceau in Orléans and Episcopal Vicar for the city of Orléans (1999–2000). He has served as Vicar General since 2000. Currently, he is also the editor-in-chief of the diocesan bulletin *La Vie diocésaine*, Secretary of the Diocesan Association of Orléans and of the Ecclesiastical Mutual Fund, and Secretary for the working sessions of the Bishops and Vicars General of the Province of Tours.