Catholic Church in France

The Latest

Pope Francis meets a delegation of the French Catholic Action movement at the Vatican, Jan. 13, 2021.

Pope Francis: Synodality is not a ‘search for majority consensus’

Jan 13, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope was speaking to French Catholic Action groups. Read more

Pope Francis meets French bishops at the Vatican, Dec. 13, 2021.

Pope Francis tells France’s Catholic bishops he’ll meet authors of landmark abuse report

Dec 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope said he was ‘completely available’ for a meeting. Read more

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.

France’s interior minister condemns threats against Catholics during procession

Dec 12, 2021

By CNA Staff

Gérald Darmanin deplored what he said were ‘unacceptable acts.’ Read more

Archbishop Michel Aupetit, pictured in 2019.

Archbishop Aupetit at Paris farewell Mass: ‘I lost my life for the love of Christ’

Dec 11, 2021

By CNA Staff

He directly addressed a media report claiming that he had “lost himself for love.” Read more

Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Catholic archbishop of Paris

Dec 2, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Michel Aupetit, 70, has led the archdiocese since 2018. Read more

CNA

French Catholic academy critiques landmark abuse report

Dec 1, 2021

By CNA Staff

The criticisms sparked resignations from the academy. Read more

Repair scaffolding on Notre-Dame de Paris, November 2019.

Paris archdiocese to present plans for Notre-Dame’s interior amid outcry

Nov 29, 2021

By CNA Staff

Critics say the proposals would turn the site into ‘a kind of theme park.’ Read more

Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris.

Paris archbishop asks Pope Francis to decide his future

Nov 26, 2021

By CNA Staff

Archbishop Michel Aupetit has denied a report concerning his contacts with a woman in 2012. Read more

Members of SOS Calvaires, a group restoring wayside crucifixes across France.

Meet the young Catholics restoring wayside crucifixes across France

Nov 25, 2021

By Solène Tadié

The movement is growing — thanks to a cigar-chomping bench press champion. Read more

French bishops’ conference president Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort kneels in a sign of penance at Lourdes, Nov. 6, 2021.

French Catholic bishops announce ‘vast program of renewal’ after abuse report

Nov 8, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The bishops knelt in an act of penance in Lourdes. Read more

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary

What is the seal of confession? A Q&A with Cardinal Mauro Piacenza

Oct 15, 2021

By CNA Staff

To learn more about the secrecy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we spoke to Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the head of... Read more

Karine Dalle, the communications director of the French bishops’ conference.

France’s Catholic bishops will uphold confessional seal, spokeswoman clarifies

Oct 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

She said: ‘One cannot change the canon law for France as it is international.’ Read more

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Analysis: The Church in France must uphold the confessional seal

Oct 13, 2021

By Fr. Gerald Murray

The French bishops’ conference has seemingly tried to walk back the straightforward comments of the Bishop of Reims, who recently... Read more

Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, pictured in 2015.

French Catholic leader discusses ‘clumsy wording’ on confessional seal with interior minister

Oct 12, 2021

By CNA Staff

The archbishop asked for ‘forgiveness,’ saying that his remarks overshadowed a landmark abuse report. Read more

Pope Francis prays with French bishops before his general audience, Oct. 6, 2021, in the wake of a devastating abuse report.

‘This is a moment of shame’: Pope Francis expresses sorrow at French abuse report

Oct 6, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The report estimated that 216,000 children were abused by priests and religious over 70 years. Read more

CNA

330,000 children abused in French Catholic Church over 70 years, landmark report estimates

Oct 5, 2021

By CNA Staff

The president of French bishops’ conference spoke of his ‘shame’ and ‘horror’ at the report. Read more

Pope Francis makes the sign of the cross during his general audience on Aug. 11, 2021.

Pope Francis saddened by murder of French priest Fr. Olivier Maire

Aug 11, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said he learned of the murder of the priest in western France “with great sorrow.” Read more

A man identified by the French newspaper La Croix as Emmanuel Abayisenga greets Pope Francis at the Vatican on Nov. 11, 2016.

Rwandan man suspected of killing French Catholic priest reportedly met Pope Francis in 2016

Aug 9, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

French Catholic media said the meeting took place during the Jubilee of Mercy. Read more