“I believe there is a thirst among the French population…” – Interview with Father Joseph Famerée, SCJ, on the recent visit of Leo XIV to France.

From September 25 to 28, 2026, Pope Leo XIV visited France, the country where Father Léon Dehon founded the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1878. In this interview, we explore with the Provincial Superior of the Francophone European Province, Fr. Joseph Famerée, SCJ, some of the main issues surrounding this apostolic visit as well as the current mission of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in Francophone European countries.

Father Joseph Famerée, following the apostolic visit of the Holy Father Leo XIV to France, what are your thoughts on the enthusiasm observed among the French population and the speeches delivered by the Holy Father?

Father Joseph Famerée: First of all, I need to make a clarification. I was not able to experience Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France from the inside, for the simple reason that since Saturday, September 26, I have been in Bologna for the beatification of our confrere, Father Martino Capelli. Nevertheless, I tried to follow the Pope’s visit through the media.

The first thing that surprises, and that surprises everyone, is precisely the extraordinary success of this visit, as well as the interest of the French people in the Pope’s coming. This interest certainly goes beyond believers. There is, I would say, a cross-party interest in Pope Leo XIV and certainly, above all, in what he represents. He is, of course, the primary leader of the Catholic Church, but at the same time, he holds a spiritual responsibility much broader than that of the Church. People expect, I think, his words on a whole series of issues troubling humanity today, notably wars, which have resumed in an incredible manner over the past three or four years, as well as divisions between people seeking their personal interests rather than the common good.

We know that the Pope speaks with a profound, spiritual, and naturally Christian voice, but one that can resonate beyond Christianity. It is the Christian message, a message that can reach many other people. I believe there is a thirst, particularly among the French population, but also more generally, to hear words of comfort and, above all, to find hope in the very dark situation the world is currently going through.

Speaking precisely of the topics addressed, Pope Leo XIV, during his various appointments—whether in Paris, Metz, or Lourdes—returned several times to these burning issues depending on where he was. Do you think his message will be listened to by the French?

This message was certainly heard. Will it be listened to more deeply and put into practice? It is not certain that this message will be followed on all points. In any case, I believe, based on the information I have, that it is a message that touched many people, made them reflect, and that many receive positively. Of course, those with a different ideological orientation will certainly have reservations on certain points, especially political leaders. All the more so because Pope Leo XIV strongly emphasized the need to go beyond purely personal interests to work together for the common good of a nation like France.

During his speech at the Élysée Palace before the diplomatic corps, he dwelt on the question of secularism (laïcité). As you know, the press generally presents France as a highly secularized country where religion is dying out. Yet we observed all the popular enthusiasm sparked by this visit. Do you not see a form of paradox between the rhetoric we previously heard and the images we saw?

Undoubtedly. First of all, secularism (laïcité), secularization: these are tricky words. Everyone projects whatever they want onto them. It is therefore very important to clearly define the meaning of the words we use.

French laïcité, in fact, is based on a separation between the State and the Churches—originally, it was mainly Christian Churches—and then, more broadly, between the State and religions. The State is not bound to any particular religion. Precisely, this separation, this fact of not being tied to a specific religion, aims to offer a public space in which all religions can express themselves, provided, of course, that they respect public order, and so on. Secularism in its original sense, as it was intended, therefore aims rather to offer a space of expression to different religions without favoring any of them. In practice, it is true that among defenders of laïcité, some have moved away from this original definition and become anti-religious activists instead. But that only concerns some of them. It is a drift, and not the true meaning of French-style secularism based on the separation of Church and State. That was first a clarification regarding what laïcité is.

In a way, there is therefore no opposition between the existence of secularism and the fact that, for example, the Catholic religion expresses itself, as it has done in multiple and abundant ways over recent days. In reality, there is no opposition. However, when people say that France is secularized in the negative sense of the term—meaning that Christianity has lost a lot of influence there—one must acknowledge that this is an undeniable sociological trend. There are fewer churchgoers regularly attending Sunday Mass. There are far fewer infant baptisms, as well as religious weddings and funerals. That is undeniable.

So there is a sociological evolution, but that does not mean the Church has remained inactive or is dead. On the contrary, within this sort of sociological decline in the importance of Christianity, the Church had to place emphasis on the voluntary and personal commitment of individual Christians and new converts. And today, thank God, we notice a certain renewal among the members of the Catholic Church. For instance, I believe 22,000 adults or older adolescents were baptized this year. It is a new phenomenon. Indeed, yes. The numbers are growing. We will see if this is sustained over time, but it is quite remarkable, and above all, we must not stand in the way of the Holy Spirit.

Do you think Holy Father Leo XIV’s visit will inspire further new commitments?

I am convinced. I believe that, at least for a certain period, it will accelerate the movement. And let us not forget that this was one of the reasons for the Pope’s trip to France. He came to France because he wanted to see this renewal for himself. Well, I believe he was not disappointed. In my opinion, he was even very surprised by a success and fervor that exceeded all expectations.

To turn to the apostolic life of the Dehonians in France, what are the Priests of the Sacred Heart doing concretely in France today, and beyond it in the Francophone European Province in general?

Precisely, the Francophone European Province is currently made up of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In total, there are nine communities. Paris serves as the provincialate and, at the same time, currently as the house of welcome for two postulants. We also thank the Lord for sending us two postulants.

So this renewal of faith and vocation has reached you as well…

Indeed. And furthermore, in the very year of the centenary of Father Dehon’s death. It was last year that they asked to enter, on September 13, 2026. So Paris is mainly the provincialate, but now also the house of welcome for the two postulants, where there is also a Portuguese scholastic, Nuno, who is finishing his first cycle in theology, and a Cameroonian, Father Parfait, who is pursuing post-initial studies in ecology before applying those methods in Cameroon. So that is Paris.

And Massy is a fraternity, a fraternity in working-class and popular environments, notably with Father Antonio Tejado. As for the other communities, they are often linked to parish pastoral work. But that is not all. For example, in Illkirch, near Strasbourg, Father Conrad is involved in pastoral care for people with disabilities for the entire diocese.

In Metz, they are mostly involved in parishes; Clairefontaine, in Belgium and Luxembourg as well. But Clairefontaine is also and above all a welcome center and a spiritual center, in addition to parish commitments.

Brussels involves both parish commitments, but at the same time, we have a welcome chapel and it is a place where we accommodate student confreres. We grant scholarships for students in post-initial studies. In addition to Brussels, the place where Father Dehon died, there is of course La Capelle, Father Dehon’s birthplace, where all the fathers are involved in parishes, and Saint-Quentin, the site of the congregation’s foundation, where both fathers currently stationed there are also engaged in parish work. Having said that, what comes first today are nonetheless the historical sites. Historical sites not simply as archaeological places of the past, but places connected to the local population and animating them. Therefore, that is certainly what we must aim for more in the immediate future: making these historical sites much more vibrant and welcoming for congregational pilgrimages, visits, and so forth. I believe we will emphasize this, just as we already emphasize spiritual formation—the kind we can offer in a spiritual center like Clairefontaine, but also in La Capelle. That is what we want to insist on so that our historical places, located in our mother province, are truly living places.

To conclude, can you affirm that France remains and continues to be “the eldest daughter of the Church”?

France as such may become so again, who knows? But she certainly is by vocation and by her roots. Whatever the situation, I try to be full of hope, full of trust in God, in His work, and in His grace. And so, I am not worried about the future of our Francophone European province. Moreover, I rely heavily on international collaboration within our congregation to keep the most important places of our province alive.

Father Joseph Famerée is Provincial Superior of the Priests of the Sacred Heart for Francophone Europe (EUF). He is also Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Louvain, where he served as Dean from 2012 to 2015.