Henri-Pons de Thiard de Bissy


Henri-Pons de Thiard de Bissy was a French priest who was Bishop of Toul from 1687 to 1704, Bishop of Meaux from 1704 to 1737, and Cardinal from 1715 to 1737.

Biography

Henri Pons Thiard Bissy was born on 25 May 1657 in Pierre-de-Bresse.
Destined for an ecclesiastical career, he was first licensed as a doctor at the Sorbonne in 1685.
Appointed Bishop of Toul on 29 March 1687, disputes between Rome and King Louis XIV of France prevented the sending of papal bulls, and his appointment was not confirmed until 10 March 1692.
He was ordained Bishop on 24 August 1692.
He took part in disputes arising in Lorraine against the edicts of Leopold I of Lorraine,
which were considered to be contrary to the jurisdiction and authority of the Church.
On 10 May 1704 he was appointed Bishop of Meaux, confirmed on 9 February 1705.
He succeeded the famous Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet in this post.
He was elevated to cardinal on 29 May 1715
and became Commander of the Order of the Holy Spirit in 1724.
He attended three conclaves in Rome in 1721, 1724 and 1730. He is best known for his defense of the Unigenitus Bull, which was aimed against the Jansenists in France.
His book Traité Théologique sur la constitution Unigenitus in two volumes is one of the most comprehensive on the subject.
He also wrote the Pastoral Instructions.
He died on 26 July 1737.

Consecrations

Cardinal Bissy was the principal consecrator of: