Abbe Pierre, founder of Emmaus, has died

France's leading champion of the destitute and homeless, Roman Catholic priest Abbe Pierre, has died today, aged 94. The priest had been in hospital since 14 January and had succumbed to a lung infection, a spokesman said. Born Henri Groues, Abbe Pierre devoted his life to supporting the homeless, founding the Emmaus hostel movement just after World War II. He has long been one of France's most revered figures, and the Emmaus hostels can be found in dozens of countries.

Archive story 2007