The Abbe Pierre

The Abbe Pierre died yesterday aged 94.

L'Abbé Pierre (born Henri Antoine Grouès in Lyon) (5 August 1912 - 22 January 2007) was a French Catholic priest known for founding the Emmaüs movement, which has the goal of helping poor and homeless people and refugees. Abbé means abbot in French and is also used as a courtesy title given to Catholic priests.
In 1930 Henri entered the Capuchin Order but had to leave after severe lung infections, which made the strict and hard monastic life under the Rule impossible. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1938.
His pseudonym dates from his work with the French resistance during the Second World War, when he operated under several different names. He saved thousands of lives during the war, both Jews and the politically persecuted, by helping them in their escape to Switzerland.[2]
Emmaüs was started in 1949. Abbé Pierre also had the distinction of having been voted France's most popular person for many years, and in 2003 he surpassed Zinedine Zidane, moving into second place. Besides founding Emmaüs, he has also been somewhat controversial. He was a friend of the philosopher and convicted Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy. On the other side, some conservatives have criticized his support of gay adoption and admission of once having had casual sex with a female despite his vow of chastity. Abbé Pierre maintained a strong relationship with the controversial, ultraprogressist French Catholic clergyman Bishop Jacques Gaillot. In 2005 Abbé Pierre came third in a television poll to choose Le Plus Grand Français (The Greatest Frenchman). Abbé Pierre was also awarded the Balzan Prize for Humanity, Peace and Brotherhood among Peoples in 1991 “for having fought, throughout his life, for the defence of human rights, democracy and peace. For having entirely dedicated himself to helping to relieve spiritual and physical suffering. For having inspired – regardless of nationality, race or religion – universal solidarity with the Emmaus Communities.”
Many of his publications are translated; except, for example, his book for children (at least over ten years), title: "C'est quoi la mort ?" - concerning a lot about life - suits for French lessons (partly very much in the style of Le Petit Prince by Saint-Exupéry).
He died on 22 January 2007 in the Val-de-Grace hospital, France, following a lung infection, aged 94.

Pope pays tribute to late Abbe Pierre for his lifetime helping the poor
The Associated Press
Published: January 23, 2007
VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday paid tribute to the late Abbe Pierre, the French priest who toiled for the poor for decades.
After learning of Abbe Pierre's death in Paris on Monday, at the age of 94, Benedict "gives thanks for his action on behalf of the poorest, through which he gave testimony to the charity which comes to us from Christ," according to the text of a condolence telegram sent to the head of the French bishops' conference.
Benedict prayed that "the Lord welcome this priest who battled all his life against poverty into the peace of His realm."
The pontiff offered heartfelt wishes for comfort and hope as well as his apostolic blessing to Abbe Pierre's relatives and to the members of Emmaus Community, an organization the Frenchman founded and which now helps the poor in 39 countries on five continents.
The priest, one of France's most beloved figures, was sometimes referred to as the "ragpickers' saint." He had served as an advocate for the homeless since the 1950s, when he persuaded parliament to pass a law forbidding landlords to evict tenants during winter months.