Pope Francis visited the Mediterranean island of Corsica for a one-day trip, encouraging the island’s Catholic majority to foster their traditional piety and use it as fuel to serve others in charity.
The pontiff attended a Mass at Place d’Austerlitz, where he praised the importance of popular piety in an increasingly faithless Europe. He also emphasized the need for balance between Christian and secular culture, saying that “faith may not be reduced to a private affair.”
Francis highlighted the role of confraternities, which have a long history in Corsican culture, in promoting devotion and service to others. The pope encouraged the island’s clerics and religious to find new ways to evangelize, emphasizing the importance of faith, passion for the Gospel, and God’s Kingdom.
The trip coincided with Pope Francis’ 88th birthday, but he was greeted warmly by the people of Corsica, who appreciated his message of unity and service. The visit marked a significant milestone in the pontiff’s interactions with the French Catholic community.
Pope Francis arrived at the Diocese of Ajaccio, which has nearly 344,000 inhabitants, around 85% of whom are Catholic. During his visit, he prayed at various locations, including a statue of the “Madunuccia” and the Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral.
Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/261047/pope-francis-praises-faith-of-catholics-in-french-corsica