“It is urgent to promote the vital contribution of Catholicism to society, and its essential role in social cohesion”

Excerpt from an interview given by Aymeric Pourbaix in the JDD, on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the weekly France catholique:

How do you see the future of the Church in France?

It is true that current statistics may seem discouraging, even hopeless. But we are not defeatists, neither by nature nor by conviction. Much like after the French Revolution, which saw massive devastation, the 19th century saw an extraordinary revival of faith. I believe in the possibility of such a revival. Its seeds are already clearly visible today. We only have to look at the exponential increase in adult baptisms – even if it does not compensate for the fall in those of children –, the rebirth of pilgrimages, youth formation groups, etc. So many signs of the spiritual thirst of our contemporaries…

What can Catholics bring to society today?

In France, Catholics were pioneers in assisting the poor and creating hospitals and schools. Even today, many organizations of Christian origin contribute significantly to the common good. The withdrawal of this influence would be catastrophic… Since the time of Clovis, Catholicism has shaped and unified France. This foundation is crucial in a context of social fragmentation and the rise of communitarianism. In the suburbs, parishes and patronages even attract young Muslims, testifying to the importance of the anchor that Christianity represents. It is urgent to promote the vital contribution of Catholicism to society, and its essential role in social cohesion.

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