Pope Francis celebrates historic event in Corsica with believers

Pope Francis celebrates historic event in Corsica with believers

Today, December 15, 2024, Pope Francis unforgettably anchored Corsica in the history books with his first trip. The 88-year-old celebrated a spectacular mass in Ajaccio with thousands of believers and had a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. In the streets, people cheered the pope and sang traditional songs while asking for his blessing. This trip was not only another point in Francis' term of office, but also a significant message of unity between the Church and society vienna.at reported.

Popular piety as a bridge

As part of his visit, the Pope concluded the congress “La Religiosité Populaire en Méditerranée”, which was attended by around 400 participants from various disciplines. Francis praised popular piety as an expression of faith that goes beyond mere rituals and strengthens community. “Real popular piety is festive and circular,” he emphasized, pointing out the cultural and historical importance of Corsica and the Mediterranean, such as vaticannews.de reported. This piety could help to promote social interaction and cooperation between church and civil institutions.

In his address, the Pope also warned against pitting Christian and secular beliefs against each other. He called for a dynamic concept of secularity that does not exclude both faith and public engagement of believers. Francis appealed to the young generation to become more active for the common good and in politics, and encouraged pastors and politicians to work more closely at the grassroots and reach out to people. He praised this clear separation of church and politics, which promotes social dialogue, as “healthy secularism”. The new concept is intended to ensure that religion and the state have a productive exchange and do not act in competition with one another, which is crucial for social peace.