Established in 1964, the French Bishops’ Conference "has its raison d’être in respect for the authority of each bishop in the service of his particular Church (the diocese), in allowing all the bishops of France to exercise jointly their pastoral role and in promoting even more the good which the Church offers to humanity" (art. 2 of the Statutes of the French Bishops’ Conference).

Comprising the entirety of the bishops and Cardinals, the French Bishops’ Conference numbers aboout 120 members, from 101 dioceses. It meets twice a year in plenary assembly, and elects a permanent council and the presidents of the 8 commissions and 10 councils.