"In 1791, passed by the National Constituent Assembly, the decree of 21 July granted him the title of Benefactor of Humanity, stating that his “institution shall be maintained at the expense of the State, as a monument worthy of the French nation”; “the name of Abbé de l’Épée, first founder of the establishment, shall be placed among those citizens who have most deserved well of humanity and the fatherland…” The law of 29 July specified its funding.

This fulfilled the promise made by the Archbishop of Bordeaux, Monseigneur Champion de Cicé, during Abbé de l’Épée’s final moments on 23 December 1789: “The Nation adopts your children!”

In this sense, the Rue des Moulins became the cradle of the first two State-run institutions: those of Paris and Bordeaux. Abbé Sicard, trained by Abbé de l’Épée, had been directing the Bordeaux school since 1785 at the request of Monseigneur de Cicé; in 1790, he became the first teacher of the Paris Institution, tasked with taking in Abbé de l’Épée’s pupils.”

— Yves Bernard, August 2025

Petition to the President of the French Républic

More than two centuries after his death, Abbé de l’Épée has still not been transferred to the Panthéon, despite the commitments made by the Nation and several initiatives, both before and after 1914.

In 1952, the Republic honoured the work of Louis Braille by transferring his remains to the Panthéon.

It would be fair and consistent to grant Abbé de l’Épée equivalent recognition: he was the first to offer Deaf people free, structured education through a visual language.

We, Deaf and hearing citizens alike, solemnly request that the remains of Abbé de l’Épée be transferred to the Panthéon.

Such a symbolic act would mark the Republic’s recognition of his foundational role in promoting equality, public education, and the dignity of Deaf citizens.