MARSEILLE (France): Pope Francis led a massive congregation in a stadium in Marseille, addressing the pressing issue of migrants and urging European states not to treat them as invaders.
Pope Francis delivered a powerful message on the treatment of migrants during his visit to Marseille, France, which coincided with a politically charged debate on the subject. The Pope’s call for welcoming migrants puts him at odds with most European Union governments, including France and Italy.
The highlight of his two-day trip was a mass held at Marseille’s main stadium, the Velodrome, typically used for rugby and football matches. Pope Francis received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd, closing the service with a request for prayers in French, humorously acknowledging the challenges of his role.
Marseille’s archbishop, Jean-Marc Aveline, proclaimed the Pope as a “citizen of Marseille,” earning more applause from the audience. Pope Francis arrived at the stadium in his open-sided popemobile after a procession through the streets, where residents waved Vatican and French flags.
During the mass, priests and nuns were scattered among the attendees, and volunteers distributed communion wafers. Fans of the beloved Olympique de Marseille football team displayed a giant banner featuring a smiling Pope Francis in the crowd.
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Local authorities estimated that 50,000 people were present in the stadium, with an additional 100,000 lining the streets along the Pope’s tour route.
Pope Francis did not shy away from addressing the sensitive topic of migration, stating earlier in the day that those risking their lives at sea are not invaders but individuals seeking refuge. He emphasized the need for a European response to manage the complex issue of migration around the Mediterranean.
Referencing the tragic loss of lives in the Mediterranean, Pope Francis cautioned against turning the sea from the cradle of civilization into “the graveyard of dignity.”
The Pope’s words received cheers from worshippers and an acknowledgment from Archbishop Aveline, seemingly in contrast to French President Emmanuel Macron’s government, which plans to tighten controls on migrants.
Macron and the Pope discussed migration in bilateral talks, with a French presidential official emphasizing France’s tradition of welcome and integration.
The Pope also touched on other topics, including assisted dying and abortion, warning against neglecting the elderly and emphasizing the sanctity of life from its beginning to its end.
Despite criticisms from various political quarters, Pope Francis’s messages continue to resonate on issues of global concern, even as Catholicism faces a decline in France, where fewer people identify as Catholic and attend mass regularly.
