The Pope celebrates mass in front of 50,000 people in Marseille

Papa Francisco He celebrated mass at the stadium today Velodrome Marseillein the south of France, some time ago 50,000 people which was also attended by the French president, Emmanuel Macron in the last act of his visit to this city of just over 24 hours.

Francisco arrived in the port city this Friday to participate in Mediterranean encountersevent where 60 bishops and young people from the countries of the Mediterranean basin gathered, but the local Church insisted that Francis celebrate Mass in this highly secularized country, so a day was finally added to the visit.

The pope went to the stadium in the papalmobile to the delight of people in Marseille who took to the streets to welcome him, and according to local authorities cited by the Vatican, there were almost 100,000 people waiting for the Argentine pope to pass. avenue that led to the place of mass.

The religious event, held at the stadium of the football team of St Olympique de MarseilleMacron attended, for which he received criticism, and the presidency had to specify that “the principles of secularism of the Republic were not violated”, at a time when the government had just banned abayas in public schools because they have a religious symbol that identifies Muslim women.

The defense of secularism “does not rule out that the Republic has ties to all cults, including Catholic worship,” the Elysée replied, before emphasizing that Macron “attends mass but does not participate as a believer or on a religious level, he does so not at all the same as going to communion, for example

In addition, they reminded, Macron has already attended other masses in the past, such as the funeral of the former president. Jacques Chirac in 2019, as well as in synagogues and events for Ramadan in 1980, at the mass celebrated by John Paul II. Notre Dame in Pariswhich was also attended by the then French president, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.

In his homily, the Pope warned of the danger of “a quiet life, which hides itself in indifference and becomes impermeable, which hardens, insensitive to everything and anything”.

He also stated “the tragic rejection of human life, which is rejected today by so many people who emigrate, as well as by so many unborn children and so many abandoned old people”.

Because of this, he warned “European society” about the risk of suffering from “cynicism, disappointment, resignation, uncertainty and a general feeling of sadness”.

In addition to attending the mass, where his wife was also present, Brigitte Macronand the president of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, the French president held a half-hour meeting with the pope at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille and will accompany him to the airport for a farewell after the religious ceremony.