Vesco Jean-Paul

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, O.P., was born in Lyon, France, on March 10, 1962. A lawyer by profession, he entered the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in 1995, making his solemn profession of faith on September 14, 1996. He was ordained a priest on June 24, 2001, in Lyon.
After studying at the École Biblique in Jerusalem, he settled in Algeria in 2002, in the Diocese of Oran, in Tlemcen, to re-establish the Dominican presence six years after the assassination of Bishop Pierre Claverie. In the Diocese of Oran, he served as Vicar General (2005–2010) and Diocesan Treasurer (2007–2010). He was also Prior of the Dominican community in Tlemcen (2007–2011) and, for a short period (from December 2010 to early 2011), Provincial Prior of the French Dominicans.
On December 1, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Oran, succeeding Alphonse Georger. He was consecrated bishop on January 25, 2013, by Cardinal Philippe Xavier Ignace Barbarin. During his episcopate in Oran, in 2018, he organized the celebrations for the beatification of 19 Algerian martyrs.
On December 27, 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Algiers, succeeding Paul Desfarges. He took possession of the Archdiocese on February 11, 2022. On February 27, 2023, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted him Algerian citizenship by presidential decree.
On October 6, 2024, Pope Francis announced his creation as cardinal at the Consistory of December 7 of the same year. On December 7, 2024, he was created Cardinal Priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Agonizing in Vitinia. Since February 2025, he has served as Vice President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa.
Cardinal Vesco is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Meeting 2025 exhibition “Twice called. Martyrs of Algeria.”