The Holy See announced this Tuesday, January 7, the resignation of Mgr. Dominique Rey, until then bishop of Toulon. He is replaced by Mgr François Touvet, coadjutor of the diocese since November 2023.
Jean-Benoît Harel – Vatican City
In a short press release, the Holy See Press Room formalized the appointment of Mgr François Touvet as bishop of Fréjus-Toulon. Until then, he was plenipotentiary coadjutor of the diocese to Mgr Dominique Rey, who resigned. A member of the Emmanuel community, Mgr Dominique Rey was at the head of this diocese in the south of France for 25 years.
Since November 2023, Mgr François Touvet has assumed the office of coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, with special powers of the diocesan government in the areas of administration, management of the clergy, training of seminarians and priests. , support for institutes of consecrated life, societies of apostolic life and associations of the faithful.
Born in 1965, Mgr Touvet was ordained priest in 1992 for the diocese of Dijon. He held numerous pastoral positions such as that of military chaplain within the diocese of the Armed Forces from 2011 to 2015. He was appointed bishop of Châlons on December 23, 2015 by Pope Francis, before joining the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon in 2023.
Several visits to the diocese
This appointment took place in a difficult context for the diocese. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline made a fraternal visit there in 2022, followed by an apostolic visit requested by the Vatican, led by Mgr Antoine Hérouard and Mgr Mercier. In a press release, Mgr Rey, 72, claims to have resigned at the request of Pope Francis. “The nuncio informed me that the Holy Father was asking me to lay down my office as diocesan bishop of Fréjus-Toulon», writes the now bishop emeritus.
Considering leaving a Var Church “beautiful in its diversity and dynamic in its pastoral momentum», Bishop Dominique Rey announces that he will celebrate a thanksgiving mass on Saturday February 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the Domaine de La Castille.
France
