The Vatican confirmed this Saturday, November 23, that Pope Francis will travel to Ajaccio on December 15 for a one-day “apostolic journey,” following an invitation from, among others, Bishop François-Xavier Bustillo. However, it was also announced that the Pope will not attend the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, scheduled for December 7 and 8

The pontiff did not provide specific reasons for declining this event. Approaching his 88th birthday, and despite health issues that limit his mobility and occasionally require him to slow down his activities, his schedule remains particularly demanding.

Indeed, on December 7 and 8, Pope Francis will preside over a “consistory” at the Vatican, during which he will appoint 21 new cardinals. Postponing this meeting would have been difficult, given the many events planned in Rome for 2025, the Jubilee Year, celebrated every 25 years.

An Announcement That Feels Like a Blessing for Corsica

On Saturday, the bells of Ajaccio’s church rang out to mark an extraordinary moment: the official confirmation of Pope Francis’s visit to Corsica on December 15. This news has stirred deep emotion across the island.

A Long-Awaited Visit

The confirmation of this visit had been eagerly anticipated. Last Thursday, Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, also the Bishop of Ajaccio, mentioned the Pope’s likely visit during a press conference, while noting that “administrative and diplomatic adjustments” still needed to be resolved.

Following the official announcement, Cardinal Bustillo expressed his joy on BFMTV, describing the event as a “very happy moment for Corsica and the Church.” He added: “Hosting the Pope is not trivial. It is a moment of grace, a moment of responsibility, and a moment of hope for all of us.”

A Program Full of Symbolism

Pope Francis, soon to turn 88, will arrive in Ajaccio at 9 a.m. on December 15 and depart the same evening, shortly after 6 p.m. According to the official schedule, he will deliver two speeches and celebrate a Mass in the afternoon at the Casone open-air theater. He is also expected to have a private meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.

This one-day visit comes just a week after the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, an event for which Pope Francis declined an invitation from Emmanuel Macron.

Mgr Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, President of the French Bishops’ Conference, explained this choice: “The star of Notre-Dame’s reopening is Notre-Dame itself. The Pope did not wish to draw attention away from this occasion.”

A Historic Visit

Pope Francis’s trip to Ajaccio will mark his third visit to France, following Strasbourg in 2014 and Marseille in 2023. It is a major event for Corsica, which is preparing for a day filled with faith, unity, and hope.

As December 15 approaches, excitement is already building among the faithful, who view this visit as a significant gesture of the Pope’s regard for the island and its people.