Published
Update
Video duration:
1 minute
The visit of Pope Francis to Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), from Friday September 22, is eagerly awaited, particularly by associations. The migration issue will be at the heart of his message.
Ten years of pontificate, 43 trips around the world, to Africa, India, America, and even, barely a month ago, to Mongolia. But Pope Francis had never granted France a real visit. Except, in 2014, he spent some time in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin), the time of a speech in the European Parliament devoted to the issue of migrants.
A big mass at the Vélodrome stadium
Nine years later, this same question of migrants will be at the heart of his message. In his eyes, he is not coming to France, he is coming to Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), a city symbolizing the welcome of foreigners. At Notre-Dame de la Garde, he will preside over a ceremony in memory of those who died at sea. The next day, at the Vélodrome stadium, he will celebrate a large mass in front of 60,000 people.
A moment that many wait impatiently. Pope Francis, aged 86, is now in fragile health, and he will neither go to Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées) nor to Paris.