The Holy See this Saturday confirmed rumors that Pope Francis will undertake a one-day apostolic trip to Corsica, France, next month, marking the first papal visit to the island most famous for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. .
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the Pope had accepted an invitation from French civil and ecclesiastical authorities to visit Ajaccio, the island’s capital, on December 15, 2024.
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This will be Pope Francis’ 47th apostolic trip abroad and his third visit to French territory, after trips to Strasbourg in 2014 and Marseille in 2023.
On both occasions, the pontiff spoke about migration. This visit continues Pope Francis’ commitment to the Mediterranean region, following previous trips to Lampedusa, Lesvos and Malta, where he underlined the Church’s call for solidarity with migrants and coastal communities.
Pope Francis will be received in Ajaccio by Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, who was created cardinal by Francis last year and heads a diocese where more than 80% of the island’s 340,000 inhabitants identify as Catholic.
The journey from Rome to Ajaccio’s Napoleon Bonaparte Airport will take just over an hour, making it one of the Pope’s shortest international trips, covering approximately 300 kilometres. Although technically this is a visit to French territory, the Mediterranean island is closer to Italy than to mainland France.
The pontiff’s program includes the closing session of a congress dedicated to popular Mediterranean religiosity in the morning, followed by an afternoon Mass in the historic Place d’Austerlitz, known locally as “U Casone.”
The Pope will pray the Angelus with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Ajaccio.
This mountainous Mediterranean island is known for its distinctive religious traditions, including a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. The unofficial anthem of the island, “God Save you Queen”, is originally based on a version of “God save you, Queen”.
Taking as reference the Acts of the Apostles (10:38), the motto of the visit, “Jesus went about doing good”, reflects what Vatican sources describe as the fundamentally pastoral character of the Pope’s presence among the faithful.
The trip’s official logo prominently features Mary, venerated as Queen of Corsica, against a Mediterranean blue background and incorporating traditional Christian symbolism, including a cross representing faith in Christ and a descending line suggesting the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Translated and adapted by ACI Prensa. Originally published in CNA.
AC Wimmer
AC Wimmer is founding editor-in-chief of CNA Deutsch. This polyglot Australian, raised in Bavaria and South Africa, held senior positions at Australia’s SBS and was editor-in-chief of the historic Münchner Kirchenzeitung. Graduated in Philosophy and Chinese Studies from the University of Melbourne, Anian Christoph Wimmer – Chinese name 刘威猛 – was part of the jury for the Media Prize of the German Bishops’ Conference, is a former honorary researcher in Communications at the University of Melbourne and was part of the Caritas Council in Munich.