Pope's Birthday and Papal Trip

This past Sunday, Pope Francis made a historic visit to Corsica, becoming the first pontiff to set foot on this Mediterranean island. During the day, he closed the conference "Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean" in Ajaccio, emphasizing the importance of popular piety as a reflection of cultural identity and faith. And we jumped on his plane to tell you about it:

At the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Francis encouraged the local clergy to value these religious expressions beyond their folkloric character. Later, he presided over a large outdoor Mass in Austerlitz Square, where he invited the faithful to rediscover their spiritual roots and work towards a more just society.

The Pope also held a private meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the airport, concluding a visit that strengthened the ties between the Church and the Corsican community, highlighting the role of families and younger generations in the future of faith.

As a fun fact, the Pope’s birthday (December 17) did not go unnoticed, so the return flight included a "Happy Birthday" celebration and a cake.