Jean Vanier

Jean Vanier was a Canadian Catholic philosopher and theologian who was involved in efforts to provide congenial living communities for the intellectually disabled. He was the recipient of the 2015 Templeton Prize. His books include Befriending the Stranger, An Ark for the Poor, and A Cry is Heard: My Path to Peace. He was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1928, the son of Canadian diplomat Georges Vanier and his wife Pauline. He studied at the Royal Naval College in England and served in the Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. He left the military in 1950 and pursued a doctorate in philosophy at the Institut Catholique de Paris. He became a professor of philosophy at St. Michael's College in Toronto in 1962. In 1964, he visited a home for men with intellectual disabilities in Trosly-Breuil, France, and was moved by their plight. He decided to leave his academic career and buy a small house in the village, where he invited two men from the institution to live with him. He named the house L'Arche, after Noah's Ark, and founded a community based on mutual respect, friendship, and spirituality. He soon attracted other assistants and volunteers who wanted to share his vision. L'Arche grew into an international federation of communities spread over 37 countries, where people with and without disabilities live together as equals. Vanier also co-founded Faith and Light, a similar network of communities for people with disabilities, their families, and friends. He continued to live and work in Trosly-Breuil until his death in 2019. He wrote over 30 books on religion, disability, normality, success, and tolerance. He also gave lectures and retreats around the world, spreading his message of compassion and dignity for all human beings. He received many honours and awards for his humanitarian work, including the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Legion of Honour, the Community of Christ International Peace Award, and the Templeton Prize. He was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He died of thyroid cancer in 2019, at the age of 90. He was widely regarded as a saintly figure and a source of inspiration for millions of people.