French bishops

Pope Francis told French bishops that the Church carries a prophetic authority to speak in the public square, framing its voice as relevant to society beyond the sanctuary. The remarks, reported by Vatican News, underline his insistence that bishops engage publicly on moral and social questions even in a secular context like France.

Pope Francis met with the bishops of France in the Sainte-Bernadette hemicycle of the Lourdes sanctuary. The gathering opened with a prayer and a hymn to the Holy Spirit before the Pope addressed the French episcopate. The meeting is being followed closely in France, where Lourdes remains the country's most important Catholic pilgrimage site.

Pope Leo XIV has called on French bishops to defend the Catholic Church's public witness, according to Radio Veritas Asia. The appeal underscores the Vatican's concern over the Church's role and visibility in French public life. Further details of the meeting and the Pope's remarks have not been widely reported yet.