Roman Catholic Cardinal. Worldwide renowned theologian, historian and anthropologist, regarded as a leading authority in the field of History of Religions, such that he was called "God's Anthropologist", Ries was considered as a leading prolific writer and professor of religious anthropology and humanities, having written during his long academic career more than 650 titles published in fifteen languages. Ordained priest in 1945, he graduated in Oriental Philology at the "Université Catholique de Louvain" and in 1953 he obtained a doctorate in theology from the same university of which he was soon appointed professor of history of religions, becoming emeritus in 1985, by which time the university was renamed "Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve". Visiting professor at various faculties, such as the "Institut Catholique de Paris" and the Theological Faculty of Lugano, he founded along with Philippe Delhaye and Gustave Thils the ‘Revue Théologique de Louvain' in 1970 and from 1975 till 1980, served as head of the Institute for Oriental Studies, founding the ‘Centre d'Histoire des Religions' at the University of Louvain. Pastor and dean of the Messancy parish from 1959 to 1968, from 1968 until 2000 he served as parish priest of Suarlée. Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue since 2000 he served as chaplain of the Spiritual Family "Opera" in Villers-Saint-Amand. Appointed Prelate of Honor of His Holiness in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the Sacred College of Cardinals which in the Consistory of February 18, 2012. Member of prestigious scientific associations such as the "Association internationale des études patristiques" in Oxford, "Société asiatique" in Paris, "Società italiana di storia delle religioni" in Rome, "Deutsche Vereinigung für Religionsgeschichte" in Darmstadt and "Forschungsgruppe für Anthropologie und Religionsgeschichte" in Saarbrücken, he received several honoreficences across the years, which include the "Dumas Millier Prize" by the Académie Française, the "Hans Christian Andersen Award" by Kobenhavn University, an honorary degree in philosophy and bioethics by the ‘Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore' in Milan, and was appointed "Officier de l'Ordre de Léopold", "Grand Officier de l'Ordre de Léopold II", "Knight of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem". Founding the "Centre Cerfaux Lefort" in 1969, with the aim of collecting books and reviews for the library of the University of Louvain, by the time of his resignation in 2011, Ries had managed to collect some 1,600,000 volumes. The "Centre d'Histoire des Religions" of the University of Louvain was in gratitude re-named after him. The Cardinal passed away at the Notre Dame clinic of Tournai where he had been for over two weeks due to cardiac insufficiency.