Catholic Church in France
The Latest
French archbishop consecrates city to Sacred Heart of Jesus ahead of ‘Gate of Darkness’ event
Archbishop Guy de Kerimel’s decision to consecrate the city and archdiocese comes ahead of the operatic city-funded production “The Gate... Read more
Paris archbishop condemns firing of Catholic school principal accused of violating secular laws
Catholic schools in France, which are state-funded, are allowed to maintain their religious identity and offer catechism classes so long... Read more
Devastating attack on church in France renews concerns over security in places of worship
The historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, was ravaged by arson... Read more
Paris 2024: 7 arrested ‘at gunpoint’ for calling for an end to attacks against Christians
The seven were aboard a bus protesting the attack against the faith of Christians that was featured during the opening... Read more
Pope Francis’ desire for Olympics is to foster world peace, which is ‘seriously threatened’
In a message addressed to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, Pope Francis expressed his fervent desire that the Olympic Games... Read more
The Catholic Church in France will have 105 new priests in 2024
Of the 105 new priests, 73 are diocesan, 16 belong to religious orders, 10 are members of communities, and two... Read more
Rescue of more historic Catholic sites in France gets underway
The danger that has been threatening France’s religious heritage for decades is becoming a matter of concern to the authorities... Read more
Prosecutor dismisses case against French priest who said homosexual relations are a sin
French priest Matthieu Raffray disclosed that the Paris prosecutor’s office has dismissed a case initiated against him for stating that... Read more
‘Little miracle of Lille’: How a candlelight Mass gathers hundreds of young people every week in France
“The good makes no noise,” St. Francis de Sales would say of Lille’s candlelight Mass. Read more
Notre Dame fire, 5 years later: What are the plans for reopening the cathedral in Paris?
The reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral is scheduled to begin with a triduum on Dec. 7 that will include... Read more
Boom in Muslim conversions to Christianity in France: How is the Church responding?
The phenomenon is forcing dioceses to deploy new pastoral services to better welcome these converts, who often have difficulty integrating... Read more
French government cracks down on priest who said homosexual relations are sinful
The French government has initiated a series of legal measures against Father Matthieu Raffray for calling homosexual relations sinful. Read more
French bishops condemn Macron’s assisted suicide bill
Several French Catholic bishops this week roundly condemned a recently announced proposal by the Macron government to legalize the practice... Read more
Vatican on France’s abortion amendment: There cannot be a ‘right’ to take a human life
“The Pontifical Academy for Life reiterates that precisely in the era of universal human rights, there cannot be a ‘right’... Read more
French bishops call for fasting and prayer as France enshrines abortion in constitution
The French National Assembly in January voted to introduce a “right to abortion” in the French Constitution. Read more
French bishops lament country’s enshrinement of abortion in constitution
The French Bishops’ Conference said it was “saddened” by the Senate’s overwhelming passage of the constitutional measure. Read more
Notre Dame cathedral spire to be unveiled nearly 5 years after devastating fire
Deconstruction of the scaffolding surrounding the spire — which reaches 330 feet in height — will take several months, the... Read more
French bishops express solidarity with striking farmers
French Catholic bishops have expressed solidarity with the country’s agricultural workers amid protests that have seen farmers block major roadways... Read more
‘Right to abortion’ to be codified in French Constitution
The plan to write access to abortion into France’s constitution was announced by President Emmanuel Macron in October 2023. Read more
French bishops delineate support for Fiducia Supplicans
The Permanent Council of the French Bishops’ Conference offered carefully delineated support for the Fiducia Supplicans declaration on pastoral blessings. Read more
