[1] Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Digne on 2 February 1988 and he was consecrated on 20 March.
[1] Though orthodox in matters of theology, with respect to same-sex marriage and the ordination of women, for example, his rapprochement with Islam made him the "bête noire" of the political right.
[7] He declined to endorse the "proclamation of freedom of expression" that Reporters Without Borders invited all religious leaders to sign following the Charlie Hebdo shooting in January 2015.
[8][9] Pope Francis accepted his resignation, submitted as required when Pontier turned 75, on 8 August 2019.
[11] On 2 December 2021, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Paris after the resignation of Archbishop Michel Aupetit.