14 Facts About Louis Billot

Louis Billot was a French Jesuit priest and theologian.

Louis Billot became a cardinal in 1911 and resigned from that status in 1927, the only person to do so in the twentieth century.

Louis Billot, sometimes identified as Ludovic Billot, studied at the seminaries in Metz, Bordeaux, and Blois.

Louis Billot taught at the Catholic University of Angers from 1879 to 1882 and made his final vows as a Jesuit on 2 February 1883, while teaching at the Jesuit Scholasticate on Jersey.

In 1885, Louis Billot became a professor of dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Louis Billot produced numerous published works and attracted many students.

Louis Billot was instrumental in drafting Pope Pius X's 1907 encyclical Pascendi dominici gregis and was a close friend of Fr.

Louis Billot was one of the cardinal electors in the conclaves of 1914 and 1922.

Louis Billot was appointed a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission on 6 February 1923.

Louis Billot expressed strong disagreement with the decision, saying that the political activities of monarchist Catholics ought not to be censured by Rome.

On 13 September 1927, in a meeting with Pope Pius XI, Louis Billot submitted a letter asking to be allowed to resign as cardinal.

Louis Billot was the only cardinal to resign that rank during the twentieth century, though others relinquished the rights and privileges of the office while retaining the title.

Louis Billot died at the Jesuit Novitiate of Galloro, near Ariccia, outside Rome, at the age of 85.

Louis Billot is buried in the Jesuit chapel of the Campo Verano cemetery.