France

The Latest

French bishops’ conference president Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, pictured in May 2015.

French bishops say public Mass ban violates freedom of worship

Nov 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As France begins its second lockdown this year, French bishops are filing an urgent appeal to continue public Masses, saying... Read more

Police seal off the street after the attack at the basilica in Nice, France, Oct. 29, 2020.

French police make six arrests over Nice terror attack

Nov 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

French police have arrested a total of six men in their investigation into the attack on the Basilica of Notre-Dame... Read more

Notre-Dame de Nice, the site of an Oct. 29, 2020 terrorist attack.

French police make second arrest in Nice attack

Oct 30, 2020

An unnamed French official told the New York Times on Friday that police have arrested a 47-year-old man in connection... Read more

Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice, France.

Nice basilica terrorist attack: Who were the victims?

Oct 29, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Bells tolled in Catholic parishes across France in memory of the three people killed in a knife attack at the... Read more

Pope Francis prays for victims of terrorist attack at French basilica

Oct 29, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

After three people were killed in a terrorist attack in a basilica in Nice, France, on Thursday, a Vatican spokesman... Read more

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice in France.

French Catholic bishops ask churches to toll bells in memory of three killed in basilica attack

Oct 29, 2020

The French bishops asked churches across the country to toll their bells Thursday in memory of three people killed at... Read more

Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Cardinal Sarah says West must wake up to threat of Islamism after three killed at French Catholic church

Oct 29, 2020

Vatican Cardinal Robert Sarah said Thursday that the West must wake up to the threat of Islamism after three people... Read more

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice in France.

Three dead in terrorist attack at French basilica

Oct 29, 2020

An attacker armed with a knife killed three people at a church in Nice and wounded others, police in the... Read more

Bishop Paul McAleenan, center, meets charity workers and volunteers helping refugees in Dover, England, Sept. 15, 2020.

Catholic bishop laments deaths of children after migrant boat sinks in English Channel

Oct 28, 2020

A Catholic bishop expressed sorrow Wednesday after a migrant boat sank in the English Channel, killing four members of a... Read more

A night view of Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, France.

Paris’ Sacre-Coeur Basilica to be classified as a protected historic monument

Oct 28, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris is expected to receive classification as a protected historic monument by France’s Minister of Culture.  Read more

Fr. Jacques Hamel, who was killed by Islamic State terrorists as he offered Mass July 26, 2016.

After teacher beheaded, some in France turn to Fr. Jacques Hamel

Oct 19, 2020

Religious leaders gathered at a memorial to slain French priest Fr. Jacques Hamel Sunday, following the beheading of a Paris... Read more

Baby Feet.

French bill extending abortion time limit and restricting conscientious objection advances

Oct 8, 2020

A bill extending the abortion time limit from 12 to 14 weeks and restricting conscientious objection passed its first reading... Read more

Young French Catholics attend a vigil organized by Protège ton église. Courtesy photo.

Attacks on French churches back to ‘normal’ level after lockdown, say young Catholics

Sep 8, 2020

Attacks on churches in France are back to their “normal” level following a nationwide lockdown, according to an organization led... Read more

Pope French discusses Laudato si’ with French ecological experts Sept. 3, 2020.

Pope Francis: science and faith together can protect environment

Sep 3, 2020

Pope Francis said Thursday that science and faith together can help humanity to overcome ecological crises.   Read more

Catholic bishop: 'the Church must proclaim the truth' on new French abortion law

Aug 21, 2020

French Bishop Marc Aillet expressed his objections to a bioethics bill recently passed by the National Assembly, which expands the... Read more

The website of Protège ton église.

‘We must pray for their conversion’: Young French Catholics respond to wave of desecrations

Jul 28, 2020

In 2019, two friends launched a movement to protect churches across France in response to a wave of desecrations.   Read more

Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul of Nantes in western France.

Nantes cathedral fire: Altar server charged with arson

Jul 26, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A church volunteer has admitted to starting the fire at Nantes Cathedral and was charged with arson on Saturday.  Read more

Fr. Jacques Hamel.

Mass, procession to mark fourth anniversary of Fr. Jacques Hamel’s murder

Jul 25, 2020

The Diocese of Rouen, France will mark the fourth anniversary of the murder of Fr. Jacques Hamel with a Mass... Read more

Archbishop Luigi Ventura, then-Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, speaks at a Mass and Concert held in Ottawa, April 2, 2009.

Ex-nuncio to France to face trial in Paris on sexual assault charges

Jul 23, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A retired Vatican diplomat accused of sexual assault while in office is due to appear before the Paris criminal court... Read more

Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead bishop for migrants and refugees of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Catholic bishop: UK and France must tackle ‘underlying reasons’ for rise in English Channel migrant crossings

Jul 23, 2020

A Catholic bishop has urged the U.K. and France to address the “underlying reasons” for a rise in migrants risking... Read more