The news of the former head of state's passing came at 6.01am on Tuesday 23 April 2019.
Born Jean Benoit Guillaume Robert Antoine Adolphe Louis Marc of Aviano of Nassau, on 5 January 1921, the oldest son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Félix de Bourbon de Parme entered the world at Colmar-Berg castle. Grand Duke Jean was Luxembourg's eighth Grand Duke and his reign lasted an impressive 36 years, from 1964 until he abdicated the throne in 2000.
The former Grand Duke was a man who always supported the population, through good times and bad. He fought on behalf of the Allies during the Second World War prior to his mother's abdication. His reign was marked by a number of developments in a changing world, as he led the Grand Duchy through the steel crisis in the 1970s, the diversification of Luxembourg's industries, as well as the country's rebirth as a central location for financial and European institutions.
Throughout his life, Grand Duke Jean was a man of integrity, maintaining a neutral outlook vis à vis political events in the nation. On 7 October 2000 he abdicated in favour of his son, Henri.
The country entered a state of mourning when the news came of Grand Duke Jean's death on 23 April 2019, following a lung infection. He was 98 years old.
Several thousand people paid tribute at the Grand Ducal palace following the former Grand Duke's passing, while he was lauded by those who knew him.
Grand Duke Jean was buried in a state funeral on 4 May. The mass was led by Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerech, before the former Grand Duke was laid to rest in the cathedral crypt.
Anniversary mass on 7 May at the Cathedral
A special mass will be held in memory of the former Grand Duke on Thursday 7 May, during the Octave week. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerech will lead the mass at 9.30am. It will not be public due to the health crisis, but will be streamed live for viewers on cathol.lu.
PDF: Press release from the Court
RTL 2, 8pm: Film "Jean, Grand-Duc vu Lëtzebuerg"
RTL produced a one-off documentary film on the life of the Grand Duke. The biographical film, featuring contemporary documents and images, will be shown on RTL 2 on the anniversary of his death.
