Vatican City: Pope Francis is set to make history with his first visit to Corsica, the French Mediterranean island, on December 15. This marks his 47th Apostolic Journey abroad and the first visit by any Pope to the island. The announcement was made by Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, who noted that the Pope's visit is in response to an invitation from Corsican civil and Church authorities.
The Holy Father will close an international Colloquium on popular religious traditions in the Mediterranean, organized by the Diocese of Ajaccio. The two-day event will explore Corsica's unique spiritual heritage and its connections with other Mediterranean regions, aiming to highlight faith's role in addressing modern secular challenges.
Corsica: A Crossroads of History and Culture
Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean. Its mountainous terrain and strategic location have placed it at the intersection of various cultures and powers, including the Papacy, Pisa, Genoa, and France, which annexed the island in 1769. Despite modernization, Corsica retains its distinct cultural and linguistic identity, shaped by its Italian influences and community-based social structure.
The island is predominantly Catholic, with the Diocese of Ajaccio encompassing its entire territory. Headed by Spanish-born Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, O.F.M.Conv., the diocese serves a population where 81.5% of the 340,000 residents identify as Catholic. Corsica’s religious life is marked by a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated in its national anthem, Diu vi Salvi Regina ("God Save You, O Queen").
Celebrating Faith and Tradition
Corsica’s religious festivals, processions, and pilgrimages are integral to its social fabric. These traditions will be the centerpiece of the Ajaccio Colloquium, which gathers Catholic representatives from France, Italy, and Spain. Discussions will focus on how Corsican popular religiosity, alongside similar traditions in Sicily and Sardinia, can serve as a tool for evangelization in an increasingly secular world.
The Pope’s visit is themed around the Biblical verse, “Jésus passa en faisant le bien” ("He went about doing good," Acts 10:38). The visit’s logo symbolizes Corsica’s faith and its connection to the Virgin Mary, depicted as a figure immersed in the sea.
A Historic Apostolic Journey
This visit will be Pope Francis’ third to French territory, following his trips to Strasbourg in 2014 and Marseille in 2023. His presence in Corsica underscores the island’s enduring religious and cultural significance within the Mediterranean.