Catholic Church in France

The Latest

French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting with Governor of Spain at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on March 21, 2022.

French bishops condemn Macron’s assisted suicide bill

Mar 15, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Several French Catholic bishops this week roundly condemned a recently announced proposal by the Macron government to legalize the practice... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Pontifical Academy for Life on Feb. 12, 2024, at the Vatican.

Vatican on France’s abortion amendment: There cannot be a ‘right’ to take a human life

Mar 5, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“The Pontifical Academy for Life reiterates that precisely in the era of universal human rights, there cannot be a ‘right’... Read more

An attendee prays the rosary during a demonstration called by the association “La Marche pour la vie” against abortion and euthanasia in Versailles, southwest of Paris, on March 4, 2024.

French bishops call for fasting and prayer as France enshrines abortion in constitution 

Mar 4, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The French National Assembly in January voted to introduce a “right to abortion” in the French Constitution. Read more

Members of the French Parliament are shown when they convened for a previous revision of the country's constitution at Versailles castle, near Paris, in 2008.

French bishops lament country’s enshrinement of abortion in constitution

Mar 1, 2024

By Diego López Marina

The French Bishops’ Conference said it was “saddened” by the Senate’s overwhelming passage of the constitutional measure. Read more

The new golden rooster is seen atop of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on Feb. 13, 2024, in Paris.

Notre Dame cathedral spire to be unveiled nearly 5 years after devastating fire

Feb 14, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Deconstruction of the scaffolding surrounding the spire — which reaches 330 feet in height — will take several months, the... Read more

French farmers stand next to their tractors as they block the road during a demonstration at the French-German border in Ottmarsheim, eastern France, on Feb. 1, 2024, as part of nationwide protests called by several farmers’ unions over pay, tax, and regulations.

French bishops express solidarity with striking farmers

Feb 1, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

French Catholic bishops have expressed solidarity with the country’s agricultural workers amid protests that have seen farmers block major roadways... Read more

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‘Right to abortion’ to be codified in French Constitution

Jan 31, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The plan to write access to abortion into France’s constitution was announced by President Emmanuel Macron in October 2023.  Read more

Bishop Eric Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishops’ Conference.

French bishops delineate support for Fiducia Supplicans

Jan 11, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

The Permanent Council of the French Bishops’ Conference offered carefully delineated support for the Fiducia Supplicans declaration on pastoral blessings. Read more

The Saint Peter Cathedral in Rennes, France.

French bishops instruct priests to refrain from blessing homosexual couples

Jan 5, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Nine bishops from France have instructed priests in their dioceses that they may bless homosexual individuals but should refrain from... Read more

Bishop Georges Colomb of La Rochelle and Saintes was reportedly charged on Nov. 17, 2023, with attempted rape of an adult man in 2013.

French bishop charged with attempted 2013 rape of adult man

Nov 21, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Pope Francis has appointed an apostolic administrator of the La Rochelle and Saintes Diocese, while Bishop Georges Colomb will retain... Read more

Bishop François Touvet of Châlons (right) will serve alongside the current bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, 71-year-old Dominique Rey, and will automatically succeed him upon his resignation at age 75, Pope Francis announced Nov. 21, 2023.

Pope Francis appoints coadjutor to French diocese where ordinations were halted

Nov 21, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Bishop François Touvet of Châlons will serve alongside the current bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, Dominique Rey, and will succeed him upon... Read more

Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rouen, France.

Altar vandalized, sacred vessels stolen from Sacred Heart Basilica in France

Nov 17, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

During the night of Nov. 14–15, unidentified persons destroyed the altar and stole sacred vessels from the Sacred Heart Basilica... Read more

Bishop Olivier Leborgne of Arras, France.

Islamist kills teacher at French high school, bishop condemns the terrorist attack

Oct 16, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The bishop of Arras, France, Olivier Leborgne, condemned the murder of a teacher by a young Islamist and the terrorist... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for an estimated 50,000 people at the Vélodrome Stadium in Marseille, France, the last stop in his Sept. 22-23, 2023, visit to the port city to speak at an ecumenical meeting of young people and bishops called the “Rencontres Mediterraneennes,” or Mediterranean Encounter.

Pope Francis: Be Christians who ‘leap for joy’ in the face of life

Sep 23, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis celebrated Mass for an estimated 50,000 people in Marseille’s Vélodrome Stadium on Sept. 23. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the closing session of the Mediterranean Encounter in Marseille, France, on Sept. 23, 2023.

Pope Francis: Migrant crisis requires wisdom, not ‘alarmist propaganda’

Sep 23, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

“Those who risk their lives at sea do not invade, they look for welcome,” the Holy Father insisted. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the general audience on Aug. 23, 2023.

Pope Francis: People — not machines — are the value of work

Aug 29, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

He also said businessmen and businesswomen can contribute to the common good through job creation, especially for young people. Read more

People look at burning tyres blocking a street in Bordeaux in south-western France on June 29, 2023, during riots and incidents nationwide after the killing of a 17-year-old boy by a police officer's gunshot following a refusal to comply in a western suburb of Paris.

Unrest in France: Religious leaders call for dialogue and calm

Jul 3, 2023

By AC Wimmer

The French bishops also have proposed a prayer for the restoration of peace in the country. Read more

The Church of Foreign Missions in Paris.

Investigation opened into alleged abuse by Paris Foreign Mission Society priests

Jun 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The French bishops’ conference said the official investigation has come at the request of the superior general of the Paris... Read more

Church of the Sacred Heart in Bordeaux, France.

France’s Catholic clergy to carry ID cards proving they are in good standing

May 16, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The French Bishops’ Conference announced the change as part of a large set of measures designed to “intensify the fight... Read more

Henri de Lubac

French bishops vote to open sainthood cause of Henri de Lubac

Apr 1, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Henri de Lubac is considered by many to be one of the most important theologians of the 20th century. Read more