The president of the Conference of Bishops of France says “his great joy” of the election of the new pope whom he has “the honor of knowing”

The choice of Cardinal Prevost to be called Léon XIV is “a beautiful promise” considers Eric de Moulins-Beaufort.

“I felt great joy”admitted Thursday, May 8 on “ICI Champagne-Ardenne” Monsignor Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, archbishop of Reims and president of the Conference of Bishops of France, after the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as new pope under the name of Léon XIV. “When I heard the first name Robert Francis, I immediately knew it was him”says Eric de Moulins Beaufort.

While the Archbishop of Reims is in the Ardennes where he walks with young people and the bishops of the diocese, he confides that he knows the former North American cardinal who has become Pope. “I have the honor and this joy to know him”said Eric de Moulins-Beaufort. He met him several times, in Rome, while Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was prefect of the Congregation of Bishops. The president of the Conference of Bishops of France also met the future Léon XIV “When Pope Francis came to Marseille and Ajaccio”. He was then in the same car as the one who became Leon XIV.

The choice of Cardinal Prevost to be called Leon XIV is “A great promise” Add Eric de Moulins-Beaufort. The Archbishop of Reims describes the new pope as a very sweet man, very attentive, but who also knows how to be firm.