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France's Priest Dies
Priest Abbe Pierre has died at the age of 94. The cause of death is said to have been a lung infection.
He was renowed as a leading champion of the destitute and the homeless.
Year after year he came top of the polls as France's most popular public figure.
French president Jacques Chirac has issued a statement saying: "We have lost an immense figure, a conscience and an incarnation of goodness".
Abbe Pierre's tireless work included smuggling Jews out of occupied France. He founded hostels for the destitute and fought France's parliament for expelling tenants during freezing winter months. And he won that battle - it is illegal for landlords to evict tenants in winter.
His demise is being marked with sadness throughout his country.
No one ever criticised Abbe Pierre. He was a true priest.
