Since Pope Francis in July 2013 first visited the small Italian island of Lampedusa, a primary destination for migrants seeking entry in Europe, the issue of migration has been a cornerstone of his papacy.
France
Fire Destroys Chapels of Light Shrine at Lourdes
Half of the Chapels of Light at Our Lady of Lourdes shrine were destroyed by a fire over the night of July 10–11. The fire was quickly brought under control, according to media reports.
Harlem Church Packed for Veneration of St. Bernadette Relics on First U.S. Tour
The first-ever U.S. tour of St. Bernadette’s relics has been underway since April, including a May 20 stop at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in West Harlem, Manhattan.
European Bishops Hit Back Against Macron Abortion Plan
Europe’s bishops have criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal earlier this month to include abortion in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, saying that doing so would not only be unethical but would oppose European values.
Pope Prays for Survivors of Abuse in France
Pope Francis learned “with sorrow” of the contents of a report that came at the end of a four-year investigation into abuse in the church in France
French Bishops ‘Cleanse’ Nice Basilica After Attack
French bishops conducted a “penitential rite of reparation” inside a church in which three people were murdered in late October.
‘It Is an Attack on Everyone’: Bishops React to Nice Basilica Murders
Bishops in the United States and around the world expressed condolences after three people were murdered before Mass Oct. 29 in the basilica in Nice, France.
Update: Altar Server Charged With Arson For Nantes Cathedral Fire
French police have opened an arson investigation into a fire at a Gothic cathedral in Nantes.
Lourdes Shrine Closes Healing Pools as Precaution Against Coronavirus
As the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus in Europe continued to grow, the French Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes announced that pilgrims were still welcome, but the pools the sick bathe in hoping for healing would be closed temporarily.
French Government Moves Forward on Notre Dame Restoration Plans
Nearly three months after a fire devastated Paris’s famed Notre Dame Cathedral, France’s National Assembly moved closer to enacting legislation to approve the restoration process and timeline for one of the world’s most beloved landmarks.