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| France pays homage to Abbe Pierre | France pays homage to Abbe Pierre |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| French leaders are attending a funeral ceremony at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for the priest Abbe Pierre, who championed the homeless. | |
| One of France's most revered figures, Abbe Pierre died on Monday, aged 94. | One of France's most revered figures, Abbe Pierre died on Monday, aged 94. |
| President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin were among the mourners on Friday. | President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin were among the mourners on Friday. |
| The Roman Catholic priest was France's leading champion of the destitute and homeless, topping a national popularity poll year after year. | The Roman Catholic priest was France's leading champion of the destitute and homeless, topping a national popularity poll year after year. |
| Abbe Pierre will be buried in a private cemetery in the Normandy village of Esteville, on a day of "national homage". | Abbe Pierre will be buried in a private cemetery in the Normandy village of Esteville, on a day of "national homage". |
| The last Frenchman to be honoured in such a way was the environmentalist and inventor, Jacques Cousteau, in 1997. | The last Frenchman to be honoured in such a way was the environmentalist and inventor, Jacques Cousteau, in 1997. |
| Example for nation | Example for nation |
| Former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing and Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe were among the mourners, as were cultural celebrities including Robert Hossein, Laetitia Hallyday, Jean Reno and Lambert Wilson. | Former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing and Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe were among the mourners, as were cultural celebrities including Robert Hossein, Laetitia Hallyday, Jean Reno and Lambert Wilson. |
| Earlier mourners paid their respects before his open coffin in the 17th-Century Val-de-Grace church in Paris, beside the hospital where he died. | Earlier mourners paid their respects before his open coffin in the 17th-Century Val-de-Grace church in Paris, beside the hospital where he died. |
| "Abbe Pierre showed us the way of the heart, of generosity, of the spirit of rebellion to help the most vulnerable," Mr Chirac said. | "Abbe Pierre showed us the way of the heart, of generosity, of the spirit of rebellion to help the most vulnerable," Mr Chirac said. |
| "His message must stay alive in each of us and it is up to all of us to follow it through." | "His message must stay alive in each of us and it is up to all of us to follow it through." |
| Abbe Pierre was the codename he used - abbe is a title traditionally given to priests - during his work with the French Resistance, smuggling Jews out of occupied France during World War II. | Abbe Pierre was the codename he used - abbe is a title traditionally given to priests - during his work with the French Resistance, smuggling Jews out of occupied France during World War II. |
| Born Henri Groues, he founded the Emmaus association in 1953, and fought for a law to stop parliament expelling tenants during the winter months after a freezing spell hit the country. | Born Henri Groues, he founded the Emmaus association in 1953, and fought for a law to stop parliament expelling tenants during the winter months after a freezing spell hit the country. |
| He demanded the nation act when he went on the radio in the winter of 1954, highlighting the case of a three-month-old baby who had frozen to death in inadequate housing and a woman who had died on the streets clutching an eviction order. | He demanded the nation act when he went on the radio in the winter of 1954, highlighting the case of a three-month-old baby who had frozen to death in inadequate housing and a woman who had died on the streets clutching an eviction order. |
| In the subsequent decades, he continued his tireless campaign for the destitute - and his hostels started to appear around the world in the 1970s. | In the subsequent decades, he continued his tireless campaign for the destitute - and his hostels started to appear around the world in the 1970s. |