Mgr Christian Lépine

Archbishop Lépine has had many years of experience as a pastor and teacher. Ordained a priest in 1983, at Saint-André-Apôtre Parish, he began his priestly ministry at Saint-Joseph-de-Mont-Royal before departing for Rome to study philosophy at the Gregorian University from 1986 to 1989. Upon his return to Montreal, he was appointed parish assistant at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges and pastor of Saint-Joseph-de-Mont-Royal. He ministered there until 1996, when he became the director of Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte's secretariat. In 1998, he was called to Rome, where he worked for the Secretary of State and then for the Congregation for Divine Worship. In 2000, he returned to Montreal and was appointed a director of the Grand Séminaire de Montréal, a mandate that he fulfilled up until 2006. From 2006 to 2012, he was pastor of Purification de la Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie and Notre-Dame-des-Champs parishes. Throughout his various activities, Most Rev. Lépine taught philosophy and theology for some twenty years at the Grand Séminaire de Montréal. He was also gave regular talks on Catholic Social Teaching for members of CAPP-Canada. Ordained a bishop on September 10, 2011 by Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte, he was appointed Episcopal Vicar to Family and Youth as well as Director of the Pastoral Liturgy Service. Finally, on March 20, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him archbishop of Montreal.