More often than not, traditional French catholics and the late Pope were at odds with each other.
Pope Francis’ vision for Europe sometimes clashed with that of European Roman Catholics, particularly the French. Tradition, immigration, and identity were but some of many issues responsible for a strained relationship. In the end, though, the two sides developed an amiable enough rapport.
Pope Francis’ election was viewed with hope by most Catholics in France, but with apprehension by others. In fact, most didn’t know what to expect from his election, as it was the first time a non-European pope had been elected.
The late pope’s membership of the Argentinian Jesuits was probably the only sign of his vision and practice of the faith. From the very beginning, this was viewed with a certain apprehension by the most traditional French Catholics, who attend the Traditional Latin Mass.
Bone of Contention
The issue of immigration, one of Pope Francis' priorities, became the first major faultline. On July 8, 2013, only four months after his election, Francis went to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where he strongly condemned the ”globalization of indifference” toward the dozens of migrants dying every year in the Mediterranean. After that, he frequently discussed the matter and placed a strong emphasis on the need to ”build bridges, not walls.” One of the most noteworthy moments in the illegal migration debate was the 2016 US presidential election, when Francis indirectly criticised Donald Trump for his stance on immigration and his proposing of mass deportations. In February 2016, Pope Francis famously stated:
”A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel.”
In France, the pope’s position on immigration was well received by the older generation, many of whom lean toward the center or left and remain influenced by the principles of tolerance and openness from the post-Vatican II era. Their views, however, contrast sharply with those of the younger generation. Millennial and Gen Z Catholics, strongly influenced by the 2013–2015 protests against same-sex marriage (the ”Manif pour tous”), tend to place greater emphasis on identity and the need to reaffirm French culture and history. As French statistician Jérôme Fourquet put it, Catholic voters are going through an ”identity awakening”. During the 2022 presidential election, a significant number of Roman Catholics were involved in the campaign of nationalist candidate Éric Zemmour, who regularly voiced harsh criticisms of the pope.
Latin Mass Cancelled
The most controversial issue was certainly the restriction of the Traditional Latin Mass (also called the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite). In July 2021, to the surprise of traditional Catholics and beyond, Pope Francis published the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, reversing the provisions on the Traditional Latin Mass established by Pope Benedict XVI in the 2007 apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum. From then on, the Traditional Latin Mass could no longer be celebrated in parish churches without explicit permission from the bishop. Previously, between 2007 and 2021, if a sufficiently large group of the faithful requested the Latin Mass, they had the right to have it celebrated in their parish. Additionally, priests who wished to celebrate this liturgy were now required to obtain authorisation from the Vatican.
While most French bishops and priests welcomed this motu proprio, many French Catholics did not. The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), which is dedicated to celebrating exclusively the Traditional Latin Mass, expressed its ”deep sadness” over this reform.
Though Traditionalist Catholics remain a small minority in France—about 4% of French Catholics—they are quite vocal. Each year, they organise the famous Chartres Pilgrimage, which takes place around Pentecost. In 2024, this pilgrimage attracted 18,000 faithful from around the world, according to the organisers.
The relationship between Pope Francis and French Catholics should not be reduced to this controversy alone, however. Francis’ visit to Marseille in September 2023 for the Mediterranean Meetings was widely regarded as a great success, and his solemn Mass at the Vélodrome Stadium was attended by 50,000 of the faithful. A year later, in December 2024, Francis traveled to Corsica to celebrate popular devotions. This was also seen as a strong gesture of support from the pope to the newly elevated Cardinal Archbishop of the island, François Bustillo, who is highly popular in France.
Though the relationship between French Catholics and their pope was sometimes less than harmonious, Francis will be remembered for his strong appeal for evangelisation. Last year, at the Easter Vigil, over 12 000 individuals were baptised, including 7.135 adults: a 31% hike compared to 2023.
French Catholics, while grateful to Francis for his enthusiasm and his hope, are hoping for a new pope still focused on the spreading of the Gospel but also promoting once again Europe and France’s Christian culture and traditions, as did the late pope Benedict, Francis’s predecessor. These expectations are especially important in a country where the proportion of Muslims remains the highest of Western Europe (11%) and is increasingly challenging its Christian values.
Statement
Pope Francis’ relationship with French Catholics was often marked by tension, particularly on immigration, tradition, and identity. His strong pro-migrant stance resonated with older Catholics but clashed with younger conservatives. The biggest controversy came in 2021 when he restricted the Traditional Latin Mass, sparking backlash among traditionalists. Despite these divisions, Francis maintained a meaningful connection with France, highlighted by his well-received visits to Marseille and Corsica. His legacy includes a call for evangelisation, reflected in a rise in baptisms. French Catholics now look to the next pope to continue spreading the Gospel while valuing Europe’s Christian traditions once again, in Europe challenged by the accelerating rise of Islam.
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