Leo’s French lesson

23 September 2026, The Tablet

Pope Leo is not coming to France for sentimental reasons. He has tough questions for its already hard-pressed bishops, writes Tom Heneghan.

The four-day visit that begins tomorrow, Friday 24 September, his first as Pope to the country once known as “the eldest daughter of the Church”, comes at a trying time for France. The Church has lost much of the influence it once had. Politics is in flux. The main question is whether farright leader Marine Le Pen will win next year’s presidential election. Society is sullen, as pressure for serious belt-tightening mounts but few seem ready to actually do it.

Get Instant Access

Continue Reading

Register for free to read this article in full

Subscribe for unlimited access

From just £37.50 quarterly

  Print copy of The Tablet delivered directly to your door.
  Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
  Access to the weekly digital copy of The Tablet.
  Full access to The Tablet’s archive – over 180 years of back issues.

Already a subscriber? Login

Article end