the presence of Abbé Pierre on the Fresco of the Lyonnais raises questions

Following the accusations against Abbé Pierre, his representations are being called into question. His presence on the Fresque des Lyonnais since 1995 should soon be debated by the city of Lyon.

In Normandy, in the Ile-de-France region… The tributes paid to Abbé Pierre for several decades are being called into question. The clergyman, the target of accusations of sexual assault since July, has appeared on the Fresque des Lyonnais since 1995, among other places.

Today, its presence raises questions. The City of Lyon indicates that the fresco belongs to the owner of the building on which it is located.

“Concerning the Fresque des Lyonnais, only the co-ownership can decide to intervene on the painted wall, whether it concerns its maintenance, its modification or its removal,” the town hall told BFM Lyon.

The city specifies that the subject should be debated soon in council. “We are not ruling anything out,” it specifies.

Yasmine Bouagga, mayor of the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, where the fresco is located, said she was “shocked” by the revelations made against the clergyman on Monday, September 9, on X.

“I invite you to discuss the representation of the Lyonnais fresco with Cité Création and the FAP,” she wrote on the social network.

The end of Abbé Pierre’s legacy?

On this wall in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, Henri Grouès, his real name, appears alongside several distinguished personalities of the city, such as Paul Bocuse.

In the city, other places that celebrate his heritage also raise questions.

In Irigny, south of Lyon, the town where Abbé Pierre spent his childhood, the square opposite the church bears the name of the founder of Emmaüs. A statue and a fresco, inaugurated in 2009, also pay tribute to him. The mayor of Irigny, Blandine Freyer, “wants to consult residents informally before making decisions.”

As for the Irigny scouts, who bear the name of Abbé Pierre, no decision will be taken before 2025. “We will do this democratically, by consulting the entire group,” they specify.

Last July, the Abbé Pierre Foundation shared several testimonies from women denouncing the actions of the clergyman. New testimonies were revealed on September 6. In total, 24 women accuse one of the French people’s favorite personalities of sexual violence.