Pope Francis concluded his visit dedicated to migrants with a giant mass which brought together tens of thousands of people at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille. This event was marked by the presence of President Emmanuel Macron, which sparked criticism from both the left and the far right.
In his homily, the pope strongly denounced the rejection of human life, emphasizing that many people who seek to immigrate are today deprived of their right to life. He thus reaffirmed his message of welcome towards migrants and called for integration rather than assimilation, warning against any form of hostility and intolerance.
Pope Francis’ arrival at the stadium was greeted like that of a rock star, with crowds waving French, Marseille and Vatican flags. He toured the lawn in his popemobile before taking his place on the stage, adorned with a statue of the Virgin and topped with an imposing cross.
Before the start of the mass, several artists, including the group Glorious, Gad Elmaleh and Grégoire, entertained the stage and the atmosphere was festive in the stands. Among the distinguished guests were the President of the ECB Christine Lagarde, the President of the Paca region Renaud Muselier and the President of the department Martine Vassal.
The presence of Emmanuel Macron sparked debates and criticism, with some left-wing elected officials accusing the president of not respecting secularism, while far-right elected officials preferred to boycott the mass because of the pope’s speech on migrants. .
To ensure the security of the event, an “extraordinary” system was put in place, with the mobilization of 6,000 members of the police and a thousand private security agents. Despite security measures, the atmosphere was calm and peaceful, with the presence of Christians of different faiths, a few Muslims and many families and young people.
In conclusion, Pope Francis’ giant mass at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille was an opportunity for him to hammer home his message of welcome and integration towards migrants. Despite the controversies surrounding the presence of Emmanuel Macron, the event took place in a calm atmosphere, testifying to the importance of openness and solidarity in the face of the migration crisis.