Pope Francis addressed the crowd from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, accompanied by two young representatives from South Korea, during the Angelus prayer on World Youth Day on Sunday. AFP
Pope Francis is set to visit the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in December, just days after declining an invitation to attend the reopening of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral, which was severely damaged by fire in 2019, the Vatican announced on Saturday. At 87 years old, Francis turned down an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to participate in the Notre Dame reopening ceremony in Paris on December 7. Instead, he will travel to Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, for a conference on the Catholic faith in the Mediterranean, scheduled for December 15, according to the Vatican.
Some French bishops expressed dissatisfaction with the pope's decision to skip the Notre Dame event, with one bishop speaking anonymously about their annoyance. However, Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, head of the Bishops' Conference of France (CEF), stated that 'The star of the Notre Dame reopening ceremony is Notre Dame itself.' He added that the pope did not want his presence to overshadow the main focus of the occasion.
Francis's one-day trip to Corsica marks the first papal visit to the island, where 90% of its 350,000 residents are Catholic, as per the local Church, and religious traditions are deeply ingrained. During his nine-hour stay, the pope will deliver two speeches, preside over a mass, and meet with President Macron. Bishop of Ajaccio Francois-Xavier Bustillo described the visit as a 'historic event' and promised an 'exceptional welcome' for the Holy Father.
The Argentine pontiff, who will turn 88 on December 17, has visited France twice since becoming the head of the worldwide Catholic Church in 2013. He has yet to make a state visit to France, Spain, the United Kingdom, or Germany, often preferring to visit smaller or less established Catholic communities. The Corsica visit was promoted by Cardinal Bustillo, who was appointed by Pope Francis in September 2023.
In addition to his Corsica trip, the pope is scheduled to be in the Vatican on December 7-8 for a service where he will create 21 new cardinals. Given the numerous events planned in Rome for 2025, a Catholic jubilee year, rescheduling appointments appears challenging. Cardinal Bustillo, one of the active cardinals appointed by Francis in the Mediterranean region, is focused on addressing specific regional challenges such as migration, global warming, and interreligious dialogue.
This will be Francis's 47th overseas visit and his third this year, following a tour of the Asia Pacific in early September and a trip to Belgium and Luxembourg later that month.
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