On December 15, 2024, Pope Francis traveled to Corsica for the conclusion of the Congress La Religiosité Populaire en Méditerranée, held in Ajaccio, the island’s largest city. It was the pope’s 47th apostolic journey and his third to France or its regions, after those to Strasbourg in 2014 and Marseille in 2023. Despite the short duration of the trip – the first by a pope to Corsica – Francis’ rapport with the population was clear as people poured into the streets to welcome him, expressing their faith with simplicity and devotion. In his speeches, the pope endorsed popular piety and repeatedly encouraged it, leaving the following words in the Ajaccio Town Hall’s book of honor, as if to summarize: “Be rooted in your traditions and open to the world! This is the message I leave for the people of Ajaccio.”[1]
Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus. It has been nicknamed the “Island of Beauty” because of its landscape, characterized by a welcoming coastline and impressive mountains, with numerous peaks of over 2,000 meters that could be seen covered in snow, contrasting with the blue of the sea. For centuries, Corsica was under the political, linguistic and cultural influence of the cities of Pisa and Genoa, until it became part of France following the Treaty of Versailles in 1768. The multiplicity of influences that have marked the history of the island have contributed to making Corsican society a reality in its own right within the French context, with a specific cultural and linguistic identity.
In 1981, the French government recognized Corsica as an autonomous region, with its own Assembly and Executive Council. Later, in 2002, it passed the Corsican Law which extended the powers of the Assembly, and the Corsican language was introduced as an optional subject in schools. Over the years, movements seeking autonomy – having renounced armed struggle in 2014 – have gained more and more support, obtaining important electoral victories. The 2015 regional elections were won by an autonomist coalition, which has since maintained a dialogue with the French government, urging the recognition of greater powers for local government bodies.
Corsica has about 350,000 inhabitants, mainly concentrated in the two cities of Ajaccio and Bastia, following a gradual depopulation of the interior in favor of the urban centers and coastal areas, where the main economic activity is tourism. Ajaccio jealously guards the memory of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born there in 1769. One can visit his birthplace, now a museum, and other places connected to his childhood and youth. Among Corsica’s inhabitants 81 percent declare themselves to be Catholic, and the island constitutes a diocese with its headquarters in Ajaccio, forming part of the ecclesiastical province of the archdiocese of Marseille. Proud of its traditions, Catholicism continues to make an important contribution to the region’s cultural identity, as is still clearly evident today in popular piety and in the active presence of confraternities at a devotional and social level.
Pope Francis left for Corsica – together with his entourage and a group of about 70 journalists – at 7:45 a.m. on December 15th, on a special Ita Airways flight. After about an hour, he landed at Ajaccio airport, where he was welcomed by the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau. After military honors for a head of state, he left the airport and, before going to the Palais des Congrès et Expositions, he made a brief stop in front of the early Christian baptistery of Saint-Jean, discovered in 2005. Here a young man recited the Creed and then the pope, from his popemobile, sprinkled those present with holy water.
Popular Piety, ‘Constructive Citizenship’ and ‘Healthy Secularity’
Arriving at the Palais des Congrès et Expositions for the final session of the Congress La Religiosité Populaire en Méditerranée, Pope Francis was greeted by the Bishop of Ajaccio, Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, OFM Conv., and then delivered his speech. He began by emphasizing the cultural, religious and historical importance of the Mediterranean, a sea that connects three continents and has witnessed the birth of civilizations to which we are still indebted. He then focused on the religious experience linking the Mediterranean and the Near East, “bound to the God of Israel, who revealed himself to humanity and began a continuous dialogue with his people. This dialogue culminated in the singular presence of Jesus, the Son of God.”[2] “At certain times in history,” the pope continued, “the Christian faith shaped the lives of peoples and their political institutions, whereas today, especially in European countries, the question of God seems to be less urgent as people become increasingly indifferent.”
Recognizing this indifference, Pope Francis warned: “Even so, in analyzing this scenario, we need to beware of hasty considerations and ideological judgements that, even in our day, would pit Christian culture and secular culture against one another.” After affirming this opposition to be a mistake, the pontiff focused his attention on the building of bridges between believers and non-believers: “It is important to acknowledge a mutual openness between these two horizons. Believers are increasingly open to, and at peace with the possibility of practicing their faith without imposing it, living it as a leaven within the world and in their communities. Non-believers or those who have distanced themselves from religious practice are not strangers to the search for truth, justice and solidarity. Often, even if they do not belong to any religion, they carry in their hearts a great thirst, a search for meaning, which leads them to ponder the mystery of life and to seek out core values for the common good.”
Within the framework of this mutual openness of horizons, Pope Francis spoke of the importance and beauty of “popular piety,” an expression which, in the wake of Saint Paul VI, he prefers to that of “popular religiosity.”[3] Popular piety “refers to the Incarnation as the foundation of the Christian faith, which always finds expression in the culture, history and language of a people.” He went on to say that “such piety also attracts and involves persons who are on the threshold of faith. Although they may not practice their faith regularly, popular piety enables them to experience their roots and sustain their affection, as well as to encounter ideals and values that they find useful for their own lives and for society.” In this way, popular piety “reveals God’s presence in the living flesh of history, strengthens the relationship with the Church and often becomes an occasion for encounter, cultural exchange and celebration.” Popular piety therefore has an evangelizing value that should not be underestimated because the Holy Spirit is at work in it.
In the final part of his speech, Pope Francis once again recalled the importance of dialogue and collaboration between the Christian faith and civil institutions, and then returned to the concept of secularity: “When popular piety is successful in communicating the Christian faith and the cultural values of a given people, uniting hearts and building community, it bears great fruit that has an effect on society as a whole. Faith cannot remain a private affair […], it involves a call for commitment and witness, promotion of human development, social progress and care for creation, all in the name of charity.” The pope set out some examples of popular piety: processions associated with Rogation Days, the charitable activities of confraternities, the communal prayer of the rosary and other forms of devotion, which can nourish in Christians what he named “constructive citizenship.” In this sense, “on the common ground of boldly carrying out good works, of asking for blessings, that believers can also find themselves cooperating with secular, civil and political institutions in the service of each person, beginning with the poor, working for an integral human growth.” In the pope’s view, it is therefore “a concept of secularity (laïcité) that is not static and fixed, but evolving and dynamic, capable of adapting to different and unforeseen situations, and of promoting constant cooperation between civil and ecclesial authorities for the benefit of the whole community, each within the limits of its own competences and areas of activity.” In other words, with reference to the expression of Pope Benedict XVI that was recalled by Francis, it is a question of a “healthy secularity,”[4] which respects its own fields of implementation.
Take Care of Yourself and Take Care of Others
After the ceremony at the Palais des Congrès et Expositions, Pope Francis went to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta for the prayer of the Angelus with a congregation of bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and seminarians. During the journey, the pontiff was again greeted by the people who crowded the streets and balconies. He made a brief stop in front of the statue of the Virgin of Mercy (A Madonuccia), protector of Ajaccio since 1656, when the city was spared from the plague after invoking her intercession.
In the cathedral, after a greeting from the president of the French Bishops’ Conference, the archbishop of Reims, Monsignor Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, the pope spoke to those present. Reflecting on the role of pastoral workers, he recalled that the Christian mission depends “not on human abilities, but above all on the Lord who always works with the little that we are able to offer him.”[5] The primacy, he continued, belongs to divine grace, with which we are collaborators and disciples. Therefore we must assume our responsibilities, without, however, “getting so caught up in the daily grind and the fast pace of our life and activity,” with the risk of “losing our inner equilibrium.” In this regard, Pope Francis wanted to extend a twofold invitation: to take care of ourselves and to take care of others. His words regarding self-care were particularly clear: “Our lives find expression in our gift of self, but the more often priests or religious spend themselves in service to God’s Kingdom, the more they also need to care for themselves. Priests, sisters or deacons who neglect themselves will also end up neglecting the people entrusted to their care. That is why there is a need for a little ‘rule of life’.” This includes daily prayer and the Eucharist, familiarity with Christ and Our Lady, spiritual guidance and resting “in a healthy way from the burdens of the ministry.” To these elements of the “rule of life” we must add the fraternity among the apostles, which the pope expressed in the following way: “We should learn to share not only our struggles and challenges, but also our joy and our friendship among ourselves.”
As for caring for others, Pope Francis reminded us that the mission has only one purpose: “to bring Christ to others, to bring the consolation of the Gospel to the hearts of our brothers and sisters.” He then emphasized that the most effective pastoral methods for evangelization, in today’s context, are those of listening and being close to the people, and then concluded: “Do not be afraid of changing, of reassessing the old methods, of renewing the language of faith” and do not be reluctant to “encounter people where they live and work.” At the end of his speech, the pope reiterated, in a final and heartfelt encouragement, certainly of great relevance for pastoral workers in any context: “Even at times of weariness and discouragement, never give up. Give your heart to the Lord. Do not forget to cry before the Lord! He will make his presence felt if you care for yourselves and for others. That is how he fills with consolation those whom he has called and sent forth.”
‘The Church proclaims an unshakable hope that does not disappoint’
In the afternoon, the Eucharistic celebration took place in Place d’Austerlitz, also known as Napoleon’s Grotto or Place du Casone. According to tradition, Napoleon used to go there as a child; today there is a monument dedicated to him, inaugurated in 1938.
During his homily, Pope Francis referred to the question addressed to John the Baptist by those who came to him on the banks of the Jordan: “What then should we do?” (Luke 3:10). This was a question asked by those regarded by some as furthest away from conventional piety, publicans and soldiers, and which expressed a “desire for spiritual renewal and a better life.”[6] The pope then continued – it was the 3rd Sunday of Advent – reflecting on two possible attitudes of those who await salvation: a suspicious wait and a joyful wait.
Suspicious waiting is characterized, in the words of Francis, by mistrust and anxiety. “Instead of awaiting the future with hope, we view it with diffidence. […] We do not know how to wait with the hope that the Holy Spirit brings us.” Joyful waiting, on the other hand, comes from the heart and is based on trust in the Lord who is among us. It is not a “fleeting consolation that helps us to forget life’s sorrows. […] Our joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, born of faith in Christ the Savior, who knocks at the door of our hearts and frees us from sorrow and lethargy,” so that “in the company of Jesus, we discover the true joy of living and we become signs of the hope that our world so eagerly seeks.” In this sense, “the Church proclaims an unshakable hope that does not disappoint,” as the title of the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee 2025 states.
During his homily, Pope Francis also mentioned the Congress, the principal reason for his visit to Corsica, which, in his words, had “stressed the importance of cultivating faith and appreciating the importance of popular piety.” He then mentioned the prayer of the rosary, which “trains us to keep our hearts centered on Jesus Christ by sharing in the contemplative gaze of Mary,” and the role of the confraternities, so widespread in Corsica, “which have much to teach us about generously serving our neighbors by works of spiritual and corporal mercy.” He reiterated that they are associations of the faithful rich in history, that “actively participate in the liturgy and the Church’s prayer, which they enrich with popular songs and devotions.” He then urged the members of the confraternities, who were present in numbers in the assembly in their traditional robes, “to become ever more present, especially to those in greatest need, and in this way to practice their faith through acts of charity.”
At the end of the Mass, after the greeting of the bishop of Ajaccio, Pope Francis said he felt at home and thanked all those who had prepared for his visit, both the ecclesial and civil communities, urging them to move forward “in harmony, in that diversity that does not divide you, always working together for the common good.”
After the celebration, the pontiff went to Ajaccio airport, where he met with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron. Finally, after the farewell ceremony, he returned to Rome on a special Air Corsica flight.
* * *
After Pope Francis’ visit to Corsica, in an interview with Vatican News, Monsignor Éric de Moulins-Beaufort said that “everyone was struck by the fervor of the Corsicans” and by their joy and pride in welcoming the pope. With regard to the pope’s statements on secularity, he interpreted them as a confirmation of what the Church in France is trying to live and, in particular, as an encouragement to participate in the life of society, that is, to contribute to the social unity of all French people in their diversity, including religious diversity. After all, he added, such a concept of secularity is shared by politicians who defend a “positive secularity,” one that listens to religions.[7]
As already mentioned, despite the brevity of the trip, Pope Francis’ harmony with the population was clearly visible, and he was joyfully welcomed. On more than one occasion, he also said he was struck by the presence of so many children and young people. In his speeches, the pontiff expressed his appreciation of popular piety and encouraged it, in the context of a “healthy secularity.” We must not forget his appeal to pastoral workers regarding the importance of taking care of others without forgetting to take care of themselves. This is a particularly timely appeal, in an age in which many priests and religious experience stress and burnout. Once again, even though he was addressing a local Church, Pope Francis commented on a problem that requires the attention of the universal Church.
Reproduced with permission by La Civilta Cattolica.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32009/22072446.0325.3
[1]. https://www.agensir.it/quotidiano/2024/12/15/papa-ad-ajaccio-firma-del-libro-donore/
[2]. Pope Francis’ speech can be found at https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/december/documents/20241215-ajaccio-congresso.html
[3]. Paul VI, Apostolic exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, n. 48.
[4]. Benedict XVI, Post-synodal apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, n. 29.
[5]. Pope Francis’ speech can be found at https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/december/documents/20241215-ajaccio-chiesa.html
[6]. The Holy Father’s homily can be found at https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2024/documents/20241215-ajaccio-messa.html
[7]. Monsignor Moulins-Beaufort stated that in France it is possible to demonstrate one’s faith in public places and that the religious authorities are consulted and listened to by the civil authorities on certain issues. He also pointed out that there are certainly issues in the school context, because neutrality is particularly protected there. The school is closed to external influences, and this requires constant adjustments. The interview can be found at www.vaticannews.va/fr/eglise/news/2024-12/eglise-france-pape-francois-ajaccio-laicite-catechumene-afrique.html
