ecumenical dictionary
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October 2003: "DUPREY, PIERRE ". Author: TOM STRANSKY

DUPREY, PIERRE

B. 26 Nov. 1922, Croix, France. Widely familiar with historical theology and ecumenical currents and personally acquainted with numerous church leaders, Duprey (bishop, 1990) was a staff member of the Secretariat (now Pontifical Council) for Promoting Christian Unity (SPCU) from 1963 to 1999, becoming its secretary in 1983. He also served as vice-president of the Vatican commission of religious relations with the Jews; from 1965 as a member of the RCC-WCC Joint Working Group; as liaison between the SPCU and Faith and Order (1971-83); and as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and of the dialogue commissions with the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Pentecostal churches. In 1980 he became secretary of the international commission for the Orthodox-RCC theological dialogue. In 1963 he founded the Catholic Committee of Cultural Collaboration with the Orthodox and Oriental churches, and served on the board of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute* in Jerusalem.

Duprey left Nazi-occupied France in 1940 for Tunisia, to study theology and Arabic, as a member of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). Ordained in 1950 (Carthage), with a doctorate from Rome’s Oriental Institute (1953) and further studies in Orthodox theology (Athens) and Arabic literature (Beirut), in 1956 he began to teach dogmatic theology at the Melchite (Greek Catholic) seminary of St Ann in Jerusalem, and to edit Proche Orient chrétien. In 1962 he served as SPCU theologian/interpreter to the delegated Orthodox observers at the Second Vatican Council.

TOM STRANSKY

J.-M. Tillard ed., Agapè: Etudes en l’honneur de Mgr Pierre Duprey, Chambésy, Centre orthodoxe du Patriarcat oecuménique, 2000.

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