Catholic Church in France

The Latest

Operators work on Lilith, the “guardian of darkness,” built for the Hellfest metal festival in Toulouse, southwestern France, on Oct. 15, 2024. “Lilith” is one of the characters in the urban opera of the French company La Machine titled “The Guardian of the Temple Opus II: The Portal of Darkness,” which will be presented on Oct. 25–27, 2024, in Toulouse.

French archbishop consecrates city to Sacred Heart of Jesus ahead of ‘Gate of Darkness’ event

Oct 21, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

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 Laurent Ulrich, seen taking part in the International Meeting for Peace in Paris,on Sept. 22, 2024, condemned the firing of a Catholic school administrator accused of violating French laws prohibiting religious expression in educational settings. 

Paris archbishop condemns firing of Catholic school principal accused of violating secular laws

Oct 17, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

Catholic schools in France, which are state-funded, are allowed to maintain their religious identity and offer catechism classes so long... Read more

The historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, was ravaged by arson on the night of Sept. 2, 2024.

Devastating attack on church in France renews concerns over security in places of worship

Sep 4, 2024

By Solène Tadié

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

For CitizenGO, the incident is "extremely serious" and represents "a new attack on religious freedom and on Christians."

Paris 2024: 7 arrested ‘at gunpoint’ for calling for an end to attacks against Christians

Aug 7, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

The seven were aboard a bus protesting the attack against the faith of Christians that was featured during the opening... Read more

“The Olympic Games are, by their very nature, about peace, not war,” Pope Francis emphasized, noting that “the five intertwined rings represent the spirit of fraternity that should characterize the Olympic event and sporting competition in general.”

Pope Francis’ desire for Olympics is to foster world peace, which is ‘seriously threatened’

Jul 19, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

In a message addressed to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, Pope Francis expressed his fervent desire that the Olympic Games... Read more

Priests concelebrate a Mass in Rome.

The Catholic Church in France will have 105 new priests in 2024

Jun 22, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Of the 105 new priests, 73 are diocesan, 16 belong to religious orders, 10 are members of communities, and two... Read more

One of 100 ancient churches identified for preservation by France's Patrimony Foundation, this church is in Cachen, located within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France.

Rescue of more historic Catholic sites in France gets underway

Jun 4, 2024

By Solène Tadié

The danger that has been threatening France’s religious heritage for decades is becoming a matter of concern to the authorities... Read more

French authorities determined that "there does not appear that there is any infraction sufficiently characterized to justify any criminal procedure" against Father Matthieu Raffray.

Prosecutor dismisses case against French priest who said homosexual relations are a sin

Apr 29, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

French priest Matthieu Raffray disclosed that the Paris prosecutor’s office has dismissed a case initiated against him for stating that... Read more

Every Tuesday evening at 10 p.m., between 800 and 900 students converge on the historic St. Joseph’s Chapel at Lille Catholic University for a candlelight Mass.

‘Little miracle of Lille’: How a candlelight Mass gathers hundreds of young people every week in France

Apr 27, 2024

By Solène Tadié

“The good makes no noise,” St. Francis de Sales would say of Lille’s candlelight Mass.  Read more

Approximately 1,000 people have been working daily on the restoration of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, France.

Notre Dame fire, 5 years later: What are the plans for reopening the cathedral in Paris?

Apr 15, 2024

By Diego López Marina

The reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral is scheduled to begin with a triduum on Dec. 7 that will include... Read more

There is exponential growth in conversions of Muslims to Christianity in France.

Boom in Muslim conversions to Christianity in France: How is the Church responding?

Apr 3, 2024

By Solène Tadié

The phenomenon is forcing dioceses to deploy new pastoral services to better welcome these converts, who often have difficulty integrating... Read more

Father Matthieu Raffray.

French government cracks down on priest who said homosexual relations are sinful

Apr 3, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The French government has initiated a series of legal measures against Father Matthieu Raffray for calling homosexual relations sinful. Read more

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