Abbé Pierre, born Henri Grouès in 1912 in Lyon, was a French Catholic priest who founded the Emmaüs movement to fight homelessness. He placed 3rd in a 2005 France 2 poll of the Greatest French Persons. He died in Paris in 2007 at age 94 from pneumonia.
Identity & family.
IDENTITY
Names, aliases, and relatives of Henri Grouès — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Henri Grouès by the numbers — life, work, and family.
94Years lived
10Film credits
10Awards
Who was Henri Grouès?
BIOGRAPHY
Henri Grouès — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
I.
Early life
Born into a wealthy family in Lyon on 5 August 1912, Henri Grouès entered the Capuchin Friary to train for the priesthood, dedicating his life to the poor. He completed his religious education and was ordained a priest.
II.
Career
Henri Grouès served as a chaplain during World War II, receiving the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 and the Resistance Medal for bravery. In 1949 he founded the Emmaüs charity, providing housing and support to the homeless. He appeared as himself in the 1955 film The Ragpickers of Emmaus, which dramatized his work. He made cameo appearances on Champs-Élysées 1982 and Vivement Dimanche 1998.
III.
Personal life
Abbé Pierre remained a celibate priest his entire life, focusing solely on serving the poor. He lived in Paris, where he continued to advocate for the poor until his death. He died on 22 January 2007 in Paris from pneumonia at age 94.
IV.
Legacy
The Emmaüs movement carries on Abbé Pierre’s legacy, operating worldwide to provide shelter and work for the underprivileged. In 2005 he placed 3rd in a France 2 poll of the Greatest French Persons. He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest order, along with other honors. His commitment to the homeless and his moral authority define his memory in France.
Filmography.
FILMS · 10
The complete filmography of Henri Grouès — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
TV
Champs-Elysées
6.8(8)
TV
Vivement Dimanche
3.6(8)
TV
Spécial Cinéma
9.5(2)
TV
Apostrophes
8.5(4)
TV
The Century of Icons
7.0(3)
Movie
Against Oblivion
7.0(3)
Movie
The Ragpickers of Emmaus
7.4(5)
Movie
Hiver 54: L'Abbé Pierre Et L'insurrection De La Bonté
7.7(3)
Movie
Un Abbé Nommé Pierre, Une Vie Pour Les Autres
9.0(1)
Movie
L'Abbé Pierre – La Voix Des Sans-voix
10.0(1)
()
Awards & honors.
AWARDS · 10
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Henri Grouès — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour01
Croix de guerre 1939–194502
Resistance Medal03
Balzan Prize04
Officer of the National Order of the Cedar05
honorary doctorate at the Laval University06
Escapees' Medal07
Croix du combattant volontaire de la Résistance08
Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–194509
Medal of the Armed Resistance10
Did you know?
FACTS · 3
Little-known facts about Henri Grouès — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
01
He founded the Emmaüs charity association, which provides housing and support for the homeless.
02
A puppet version of Abbé Pierre appeared on the satirical show Les Guignols de l’info starting in 1988.
03
Abbé Pierre was voted the 3rd Greatest French Person of All Time in a France 2 poll in 2005.
You wanted to know.
FAQ · 34
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Henri Grouès.
01When was Henri Grouès born?
Henri Grouès was born on 5 August 1912 in Lyon, Rhône, France.
02Where was Henri Grouès born?
He was born in Lyon, Rhône, France in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
03When did Henri Grouès die?
Henri Grouès died on 22 January 2007 in Paris, France.
04How old was Henri Grouès when he died?
He was 94 years old at the time of his death.
05Where did Henri Grouès die?
He died in Paris, France.
06How did Henri Grouès die?
He died from pneumonia in Paris at age 94.
07What is Henri Grouès's real name?
His full birth name is Marie Joseph Henry Grouès.
08What is Henri Grouès's name in French?
In his native French, his name is Henry Grouès.
09What nationality is Henri Grouès?
He was French.
10What language did Henri Grouès speak?
His native language was French.
11Where did Henri Grouès receive his education?
He studied at the Capuchin Friary, where he trained for the priesthood.
12What awards did Abbé Pierre win?
He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the Croix de guerre 1939–1945, the Resistance Medal, the Balzan Prize, and many other honors.
13How many major awards did Abbé Pierre receive?
He was awarded 10 major honors, including France’s highest order.
14What is Abbé Pierre best known for?
He is best known for founding the Emmaüs charity and for his appearances in the film The Ragpickers of Emmaus 1955 and TV shows like Champs-Élysées 1982 and Vivement Dimanche 1998.
15What is Abbé Pierre's Instagram handle?
The official Instagram account of his foundation is @fondationabbepierre.
16What other names is Abbé Pierre known by?
Besides Henri Grouès, he is also known as Abbé Pierre, L’Abbé Pierre, and various spellings such as Henri Groues.
17What did Henri Grouès do during World War II?
He served as a chaplain and was awarded the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 and the Resistance Medal for his bravery.
18Was Abbé Pierre a member of the French Resistance?
Yes, he was recognized for his resistance activities with the Resistance Medal and other military honors.
19What is the Emmaüs charity?
Emmaüs is a charity association founded by Abbé Pierre that provides housing, employment, and support to people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
20Why is Abbé Pierre considered a great French person?
He was voted the 3rd Greatest French Person of All Time in a 2005 France 2 poll due to his lifelong humanitarian work and moral leadership.
21Did Abbé Pierre appear in any movies?
Yes, he appeared as himself in the 1955 film The Ragpickers of Emmaus, and later in television shows like Champs-Élysées 1982 and Vivement Dimanche 1998.
22Did Abbé Pierre have children?
As a Catholic priest, he lived a celibate life and did not have children.
23What is the legacy of Abbé Pierre?
His legacy is the Emmaüs movement, which continues to operate worldwide, and his status as a icon of compassion in France, honored by the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
24How did Abbé Pierre become a priest?
He studied at the Capuchin Friary and was ordained as a priest, dedicating his life to serving the poor.
25What rank did Abbé Pierre hold in the Legion of Honour?
He was awarded the Grand Cross, the highest rank of the Legion of Honour.
26When was the Emmaüs charity founded?
The exact year is not specified in our records, but it was founded after World War II by Abbé Pierre.
27Did Abbé Pierre have a puppet on French TV?
Yes, a puppet version of him appeared on the satirical show Les Guignols de l’info starting in 1988.
28What is Abbé Pierre's connection to the film The Ragpickers of Emmaus?
The film, released in 1955, is based on his work with the homeless and features him as himself uncredited.
29What political office did Abbé Pierre hold?
He served as a member of the French Parliament for a time, though this is not detailed in our source record.
30Where is Abbé Pierre buried?
The source does not specify his burial place; he died in Paris in 2007.
31What was Abbé Pierre's cause of death?
He died from pneumonia at the age of 94.
32What is the Balzan Prize awarded for?
Abbé Pierre received the Balzan Prize for humanity, peace and brotherhood among peoples in recognition of his work with the poor.
33Did Abbé Pierre receive any international honors?
Yes, he was made an Officer of the National Order of the Cedar of Lebanon and received an honorary doctorate from Laval University in Canada.
34How did Abbé Pierre's childhood influence his work?
Born into a wealthy family in Lyon in 1912, he chose to enter the Capuchin Friary to serve the poor, which shaped his lifelong mission.
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