April 24, 2025 12:34 am
Full News

Pope Francis Urges Catholic Unity Against Divisive Spiritual Groups During Historic Corsica Visit

AJACCIO, France – Pope Francis made a historic visit to Corsica on Sunday, the first-ever papal visit to the French Mediterranean island, urging Catholic clergy to guard against spiritual groups that fuel political divisions.

Speaking at a conference on Mediterranean religion in Ajaccio, the pontiff warned against forms of religiosity that “seek self-aggrandisement by fuelling polemics, narrow-mindedness, divisions, and exclusivist attitudes.” He called on priests to remain vigilant and discerning in fostering unity among the faithful.

While Francis did not name specific groups, his message carried weight in Corsica, where lay Catholic associations, known as confraternities, sometimes intersect with local political affairs.

During his nine-hour visit, the pope celebrated an outdoor Mass with local Catholics and briefly met French President Emmanuel Macron at the airport before returning to Rome. Macron had previously invited Francis to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on December 7, an offer the pope declined, consistent with his focus on highlighting lesser-known regions and issues.

At 87 and soon to turn 88 on Tuesday, Francis continues to prioritize visits to marginalized communities. His Corsica trip marked his third and likely final foreign visit of 2024. Despite minor health setbacks, including a small bruise from a recent fall, he appeared in good spirits, waving to crowds during a brief ride in his popemobile.

Corsica, known for its mountainous terrain and as Napoleon Bonaparte’s birthplace, remains one of France’s poorest regions, with 20% of its population living below the poverty line. While 81% of Corsica’s 356,000 residents are Catholic, the Vatican reports that the island has only 83 priests and about 30 Catholic nuns.

Pope Francis’ visit underscores his ongoing commitment to addressing challenges in the Mediterranean, a region he has extensively toured during his 11-year papacy, including Malta, Lesbos, and Lampedusa.

Related News
Trump in Talks Over TikTok Purchase, Decision Expected in 30 Days
Iran and the United States Resume Nuclear Deal Talks
Meta Accused of Censoring Pro-Palestinian Voices on Social Media
Hostages Reunited with Families After 471 Days in Hamas Captivity
Iran Faces Mounting Pressure Amid Economic Crisis and Nuclear Negotiation Stalemate
Trump Plans to End Birthright Citizenship, Suggests Deporting Families with Mixed Immigration Status
Related Posts
MIDI Strategic Vision: Analysis of Development and Economic Impact in Bangladesh.
Title: South Asia’s Growth Prospects Declining Alarmingly: World Bank
India Declares Pakistani Military Advisers ‘Persona Non Grata’
India Cancels Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan Following Kashmir Attack
Swachip Office Vandalized Amid Political Turmoil : Bangladeshi Doctors’ Body Blames ‘Illegitimate Yunus Government’
Modi Avoids Pakistani Airspace on Return from Saudi Arabia
More News

World Faces Recession Risk Amid Trump’s Aggressive Tariff Decision

Market volatility continues following U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt change in tariff policy. Although the new tariffs were revoked within 24 hours of being implemented, global leaders remain uncertain about how to navigate the fragile state of international trade. Trump’s temporary 90-day suspension of tariffs offered brief relief to countries, but the tension quickly resurfaced. […]

Syria’s New Administration Seeks Good Relations with Israel

Maher Marwan, the governor of Syria’s capital, Damascus, stated that they want good relations with occupying Israel. He made these remarks during an interview on Friday (December 27) with NPR, speaking on behalf of rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) leader Ahmed Al-Sar. In the interview, he said that after Bashar al-Assad was ousted by […]

Miami wants Messi to play in Europe

Is Lionel Messi going to return to Europe? If the news of the media SB Nation is true, then something like this is going to happen later this year. Messi’s return to Europe is not easy, though. According to the US-based media, Inter Miami will offer Messi a new contract due to expire this year. […]

Gal Gadot Opens Up About Emergency Brain Surgery During Pregnancy

Gal Gadot is opening up about a deeply personal and life-changing experience — undergoing emergency surgery for a blood clot in her brain during her pregnancy, which led to the birth of her fourth daughter, Ori. In an emotional social media post on Sunday night, the Wonder Woman and Fast & Furious actress revealed that […]

2024: The Year Science and Technology Redefined Our Future

IntroductionThe year 2024 has been a remarkable period for science and technology, with groundbreaking advancements that have redefined the boundaries of human potential. From artificial intelligence transforming industries to revolutionary strides in renewable energy, these breakthroughs have set a new benchmark for innovation. This feature explores the top ten scientific and technological achievements of the […]

Jealous Of Messi: Mbappe Responds To Neymar

There are also tensions in friendship stories. Not only honey, but also sour taste. And if the friendship is a triangle, then the fear of acid is more? Not all triangle friendships, but the relationship between Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe may seem so. From those Barcelona days. In 2017, Neymar left Barca and […]

Celebrating Kamala Harris’s Loss: Bangladesh Revives Interest in 1990s Film ‘Komolar Bonobash’

Entertainment Correspondent As in many parts of the world, Bangladesh has been deeply invested in the recent U.S. presidential election. Due to various political dynamics, Bangladeshis found themselves divided between former President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. In Bangladesh, Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who leads the interim government, supported Harris. Known as […]

India expresses concern over Chinmoy arrest

India has expressed serious concerns over the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent Hindu leader and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident has heightened tensions, as it comes amid a broader pattern of alleged attacks on Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh. In a statement, […]

U.S. Vice President JD Vance Arrives in India for High-Stakes Trade Talks and Cultural Diplomacy

New Delhi, April 21, 2025 — U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in India today for a four-day official visit aimed at bolstering economic and strategic ties between Washington and New Delhi. Accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children, the Vice President was welcomed at Palam Airport with a ceremonial guard of […]

Four Awami League Leaders Die in Bogura Jail Custody in Less Than a Month

BOGURA – Four leaders of the Awami League have died in custody at the Bogura District Jail in the last 28 days, raising concerns about medical facilities and conditions in the prison. The most recent death occurred yesterday when Abdul Matin Mithu, 65, a former chairman of Durgahata Union Parishad and the organising secretary of […]