Belgian cardinal; titular archbishop. Celebrated religious historian called "the greatest living religious scholar."
 
DS - Document Signed. Small fold-over litho print card bearing his image and biographical data. On the reverse he has penned his name.  Nice example.
 
Obtained a doctorate of Philosophy and licentiate in philology and Oriental history from the Catholic University of Leuven.  Taught there from 1960-68. He went on to teach at the French speaking institution of the same name where he founded the Centre d'Histoire des Religions (recently named after him). During this time he also was a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue (1979-85). Among the non-specialists in the anglophone world he was known for his series for young people Religions of Humanity which he edited with American anthropologist Lawrence E. Sullivan.
 
In 2000, Cardinal Ries donated his library, all his manuscripts, notes and documents relating to his courses, and the correspondence he had with religious historians around the globe, to the Catholic University of Milan.