Pope Francis will not attend the inauguration of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The pontiff’s only business trip outside Italy until the end of 2024 is scheduled for December 15 to the French island of Corsica, where a conference will be held on the topic “Popular religiosity in the Mediterranean region.” However, the inauguration of the renovated Notre Dame Cathedral, which burned in April 2019, is scheduled for December 7 in the French capital.
The French media point out that the Parisian episcopate at the plenary meeting in Lourdes was “surprised” by Francis’ real refusal to visit Paris.
“A visit to Corsica and an absence from Paris is considered a possible insult to France” – writes Figaro.
Sources claim that Francis was personally invited to Paris by the president. Emmanuel Macron. The visit to Ajaccio (the port of Corsica) should take place in one day, the Pope plans to celebrate mass, give a final speech and return immediately to Italy. The reason for this management, according to Figaro sources, is that Francis understands that he will be “marginal” in the opening ceremony of Notre-Dame de Paris, which will become “an international political act for the glory of France.”
