Pierre de Luxembourg

Pierre de Luxembourg (Peter of Luxemburg) (1369–1387) was a Catholic ecclesiastic. He was beatified in 1527.

Pierre was born July 20, 1369, in Ligny-en-Barrois, Meuse, France. He was the second of the six children of Guy of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny, and Saint-Pol, and Mahaut de Châtillon.

Both of Pierre's parents died while he was still young. He was raised by his aunt, Jeanne, countess of Orgières. In 1377 he was sent to study at the University of Paris. His family decided that he would have an ecclesiastical career. At the age of ten, he was named a canon of the cathedral chapter of Notre Dame de Paris. In 1381 he was named a canon of the cathedral chapter of Notre Dame de Chartres. The following year he was named Archdeacon of Cambrai. Then he was named Archdeacon of Dreux in the diocese of Chartres.

In 1384 the episcopal see of Metz was vacant. The selection of a new bishop was complicated by the Western Schism in which France supported Antipope Clement VII while the Holy Roman Emperor supported Pope Urban VI. Antipope Clement VII named Pierre as the new bishop of Metz on February 10, 1384; he was only fifteen years old. He was never able to take possession of his see or even receive the revenues from it. About the same time Pope Urban VI named Tilman Vuss de Bettenburg as bishop of Metz.

At the request of King Charles VI of France and John, Duke of Berry, Pierre was named a cardinal deacon by Antipope Clement VII on April 15, 1384. He received the diaconal title of San Giorgio in Velabro.

In spite of his youth, Pierre was known for his holy and austere lifestyle.

Pierre died July 2, 1387, at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon; he was only eighteen. According to his own wishes he was buried in the common cemetery of paupers. When miracles began to be reported at his tomb, his brother Jean ordered the construction of a church dedicated to Pope Saint Celestine V to which his remains were transferred.

The topic of Pierre's canonization was raised at the Council of Basel (1431–1449), but without any conclusion. In 1527 he was beatified by Pope Clement VII. In 1629 Pope Urban VIII set his feast day as July 5.