Minister talks religion and politics with bishops

The French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, whose portfolio includes relations with religions, has said France “more than ever needs the concept of spirituality”, writes Tom Heneghan.

He spoke after a two-hour meeting at the bishops’ conference headquarters, the first time an interior minister had ever visited the building. “We spoke mainly about theology, philosophy and politics,” he told waiting journalists. “A profoundly secular interior minister also has the right to spiritual reflection,” Mr Cazeneuve added. “We need spirituality, in a context where public discourse is often debased and ... extremism and hate speech is on the rise.”