Catholic Church in France

The Latest

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

Jean-Marc Sauvé speaks at the launch of the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church’s final report in Paris, France, Oct. 5, 2021.

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

Fr. Olivier Maire

Who was Fr. Olivier Maire, the Catholic priest murdered in France?

Aug 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

The 61-year-old priest was a popular leader of retreats. Read more

Fr. Olivier Maire, French provincial superior of the Montfort Missionaries (the Company of Mary)

Update: Police question man suspected of murdering Catholic priest in France

Aug 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

Gérald Darmanin wrote: “All my support to the Catholics of our country after the dramatic murder of a priest in... Read more

Solignac Abbey in west-central France.

Benedictine monks return to historic Solignac Abbey for first time since French Revolution

Aug 5, 2021

By Solène Tadié

Anti-clerical revolutionaries expelled the Benedictines in 1790. Read more

Tridentine Mass in Strasbourg Cathedral, France.

How French Catholics are responding to Pope Francis’ Traditional Latin Mass restrictions

Jul 24, 2021

By Solène Tadié

A study found traditionalism is growing steadily year on year. Read more

Canon Dominique Aubert, rector of Chartres Cathedral, France, celebrates Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite.

Traditionis custodes: French Catholic bishops express ‘esteem’ for Traditional Latin Mass communities

Jul 17, 2021

By CNA Staff

They said the norms would be introduced “through dialogue.” Read more

Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort. Credit: Diocèse de Reims.

Catholic archbishop: With new law, foundation of French bioethics ‘has been erased’

Jun 30, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The new law gives single women and lesbian couples access to state-sponsored medically assisted reproduction. Read more

Debris inside Notre-Dame de Paris, April 16, 2019, a day after a fire that devastated the building in the centre of the French capital.

Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral launches appeal for interior restoration

Jun 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

The cathedral is scheduled to reopen for worship in April 2024. Read more

Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris.

Paris archbishop laments attack on Catholics honoring city’s martyrs

May 31, 2021

By CNA Staff

A video posted on social media showed men punching and kicking Catholics taking part in a procession. Read more

The demolition of the Chapelle Saint-Joseph in Lille, France.

Church bulldozing in France alarms conservation groups

Mar 11, 2021

Bulldozers have moved in on a 135-year-old church dedicated to St. Joseph in the first of several planned demolitions in... Read more

Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort. Credit: Diocèse de Reims.

Catholic archbishop: ‘The Church in France is jostled from many sides’

Dec 19, 2020

By Luke Coppen

The Church in France is under pressure, according to the president of the French Catholic bishops’ conference. Read more

Lourdes struggled financially after all pilgrimages were canceled during France’s first lockdown.

Pandemic causes up to 40% drop in income of French parishes

Dec 10, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Catholic Church in France estimates that it lost more than $100 million due to the country’s two coronavirus lockdowns... Read more

Sainte-Chapelle, the 13th-century chapel built by French King Louis IX to house Christ's crown of thorns.

Catholic bishops welcome ‘realistic’ new measures for public Masses in France

Dec 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Bishops in France have welcomed new government measures that will allow more people to attend public Masses during Advent.   Read more