His pseudonym dates from his work with the French resistance during the Second World War, when he operated under several different names.
Emma�s was started in 1949. Abb� Pierre has also the distinction of having been voted France's most popular person for many years, and in (2003) he beat a footballer into second place. Besides founding Emma�s, he has also been somewhat controversial and has aroused of anti-semitism, though he denies this saying that he is only interested in the truth. He is a friend of the author Roger Garaudy.