Florent Du Bois de Villerabel
Florent Michel Marie Joseph du Bois de la Villerabel, archbishop of Aix, Arles and Embrun, was the most prominent of seven French mainland or colonial bishops who in the aftermath of the Liberation were obliged to submit their resignations to Pope Pius XII. It had been suggested that more prelates should resign, but the diplomatic skills of the nuncio Cardinal Roncalli reduced the resignations, together with the appointment of a coadjutor to Msgr Serrand, bishop of St. Brieuc and Tréguier, and the exclusion of the then archbishops of Reims and Bordeaux from any future appointments as cardinals.
Villerabel had notably opposed La Voix du Vatican, which was critical of the Vichy government, leading to a disagreement with Cardinal Suhard. His retirement was spent at Solesmes Abbey and at St. Brieuc.
Other bishops obliged to resign included Msgrs. Dutoit of Arras, Auvity of Mende, and Beaussart, auxiliary of Paris.
Villerabel had been consecrated by his cousin, André du Bois de la Villerabel, bishop of Amiens, subsequently Archbishop of Rouen and Primate of Normandy, a post from which he resigned in 1936 after a case of embezzlement by a priest on his staff.
