Funeral of little Émile: an emotional ceremony in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume

On Saturday, February 8, 2025, a moving ceremony took place at the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Basilica in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (Var) to pay a final tribute to little Émile, who had passed away 19 months earlier. Nearly 500 to 600 people, including family, friends, and even strangers touched by this national tragedy, gathered in heavy rain and cold winds, in an atmosphere of deep reflection.

A ceremony marked by sobriety and fervor
Starting around 10 a.m., the Mass, celebrated according to the Saint Pius V rite by Father Louis Le Morvan of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, lasted nearly two hours. The liturgy, in Latin, was punctuated by Gregorian chants performed by a choir of about twenty people. The white coffin of little Émile, a poignant symbol of his innocence, was carried by his parents, Marie and Colomban Soleil, accompanied by his godfather and godmother. In front of the altar, a photo of the child, smiling with a dandelion on his ear, was displayed, surrounded by bouquets of white flowers.

In accordance with the family’s wishes, the participants wore mostly white clothing, symbolizing the child’s baptismal purity, as he was baptized and considered a child of God. Instead of the traditional bell toll, a moment of silence was observed, followed by a chime of bells, heightening the intensity of collective emotion.

A unanimous tribute and shared grief
Among the congregation, families from all over the region, children in strollers, and elderly individuals were united by the same sorrow. Some, like Sylvie, who had come specially from Toulon, shared how deeply this case had affected them. “It was a wonderful ceremony, full of respect and dignity,” a participant testified, with tears in her eyes.

A tragedy still without answers
Émile had disappeared on July 8, 2023, while vacationing at his maternal grandparents’ home in the hamlet of Haut-Vernet (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence). Nine months later, in March 2024, a walker had discovered the remains of the child about 1.7 km from the family home. The exact causes of his death remain undetermined to this day. “We are all waiting for the investigation to conclude, but today, the most important thing is to support his parents,” said the rector of the basilica, Florian Racine.

A final farewell in privacy
After the ceremony, the coffin was taken to the La Bouilladisse cemetery (Bouches-du-Rhône), where the burial took place in the strictest family privacy. This final moment of reflection was held away from the public eye, marking the end of a profound tribute to a child whose disappearance touched the whole of France.