In Corsica, Pope Francis vibrates the land of “popular piety” | EUROtoday

LThe decor was fastidiously chosen. Under the statue of Napoleon, which dominates the Casone, this immense esplanade overlooking Ajaccio (Southern Corsica), sits a big oak cross. Six meters tall, over 400 kg. Its base takes the form of an anchor, echoing the altar representing the hull of a ship. So many symbols of hope within the Christian world. Perhaps additionally an allegory of this anchoring of religion in Corsica, which the sovereign pontiff makes some extent of celebrating, this Sunday, in entrance of a inexperienced theater full of individuals. More than 8,000 devoted are there. Never, in all the historical past of the island, had a pope set foot on island soil. “Francis chose the place where popular piety is most visible, today in France, to make this trip and deliver his message,” observes a nice Vaticanist within the crowd.

Arriving on the sq. the place he was to preside over Holy Mass, the Bishop of Rome felt this fervor. A cheer continues from Place Miot, from the place the sovereign pontiff arrives aboard his popemobile. Three hundred choristers are there to unite their voices below the dome put in on the sq.. They got here from throughout Corsica. Whether they sing in conservatory choirs or in parish choirs. Behind the altar, the brotherhoods additionally put… coronary heart into their work. To give voice, by means of their polyphonic songs, “the voice of a living faith”, says Christian Andreani, prior of the Saint-Martin brotherhood of Patrimonio (Upper Corsica).

Brotherhoods, on the coronary heart of widespread piety

“Sacred song is integral to popular culture in Corsica,” continues this fanatic of Christian historical past. It is the legacy of a wealthy intangible heritage which might have disappeared over the centuries however which, quite the opposite, is as we speak stuffed with vitality. » These communities of lay individuals – the island has round 100 which deliver collectively some 3,800 confreres – make it some extent of honor to boost the important thing moments of the papal go to with their sacred songs. To higher illustrate “the unwavering link between Corsican music and spirituality,” says Jean-Baptiste Luciani, pillar of the Saint-Antoine de Bastia brotherhood. Singing, removed from being a easy custom, is a vital vector of religion, a method of expressing our devotion and our identification. »

Upon his arrival, at 9 o’clock sharp, on the tarmac of Ajaccio airport, the Holy Father was welcomed by the Caramusa group to the notes of “A Nanna di u Bambinu”, alongside the minister – who had resigned – of the Interior and Religions, Bruno Retailleau. Written in 1873 by a Corsican prelate, Mgr Paul-Matthieu de la Foata, this lullaby devoted to the beginning of the Child Jesus has crossed the centuries to turn out to be a well-liked tune and an emblem of Christmas on the island. A logo of this “popular piety”, these easy gestures, small rites, pious photographs and instinctive worship, generally of pagan origin, which Francis got here to knight on the island, and which in his eyes represent the unity of Christians on the planet. Here, the pope’s arrival is seen as a recognition of those widespread religiosities lengthy denigrated by the Church, and which the bishopric has labored to reinvest.

Emblem of this renewed relationship, the brotherhoods, on the forefront of main the processions and the liturgical calendar, are “the pillar of this popular religiosity,” notes Anghjulina Antonetti, teacher-researcher on the University of Corte (Haute-Corse), specialist of Corsican non secular historical past. They play a serious position within the collective expression of religion and have interaction the laity properly past easy observance. In doing so, they take part in what constitutes social cohesion, the glue of the island neighborhood. »

The view of the clergy had not all the time been benevolent in direction of these pious firms, usually assimilated to pagan reminiscences. They are actually seen extra as a spot of mediation, a gateway to spirituality, and a supply of vitality for parishes. The diocese additionally gave them a central place within the convention on widespread piety, which the Pope got here to shut on the Palais des Congrès in Ajaccio. Paying tribute to this fashion of “incarnating faith in culture to transmit the message of God on a daily basis,” Francis soberly asserts, going through an viewers of devoted.

“Evviva u Papa”

In the lengthy procession which adopted him religiously and cheered him behind his popemobile within the streets of an imperial metropolis patrolled by the police, widespread piety was there. Women, males, kids, from all walks of life, mingle. The pilgrims are unfold out alongside the route. In the favored district of Saint-Jean, a logo of social variety and of this “poor Church for the poor”, expensive to the 266th head of the Catholic Church, the Pope takes nice care to greet the devoted – 35,000 individuals in complete was in a position to attend the completely different levels of this go to, punctuated by songs and moments of contemplation.

Accompanied by Cardinal Bustillo, near the Holy Father and the primary architect of this go to, the Bishop of Rome came over a fifth century baptistery, found by probability in 2005 throughout preventive excavations. One of the oldest locations in Christianity within the imperial metropolis. As the procession passes by means of the alleys, some observe the pontiff from their balconies. Behind the obstacles, on the facet of the highway, everybody defends their place politely however firmly to immortalize the second on a cellphone. The devoted carry infants to the Pope, taken for a number of seconds within the arms of the Holy Father, to provide them a blessing. In communion with the group chanting “Evviva u Papa” (lengthy dwell the Pope). The messages in Corsican “welcome to Corsica Papa Francescu” and the bandere, these flags bearing the effigy of the Moor’s head, are numerous. Sometimes coupled with the colours of the Vatican or the Argentine normal. A nod to the Jesuit’s South American origins.

ALSO READ The “marine pilgrimage” of the Corsicans to see Pope Francis “For a small people like ours, it was unimaginable to receive the pope,” mentioned Dominique, a Bastiaise who got here to expertise this second with buddies. A couple of hundred meters additional, the Pope is welcomed with nice pomp within the sq. of the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral. Alizée, Patrick Fiori, but in addition figures from the Corsican scene, give voice to make the “terra corsa” vibrate below the toes of the Holy Father. The similar individuals, musicians and singers, whom the Pope invited the previous lady, to the Vatican, within the auditorium of Via della Conciliazione, for the Vatican Christmas live performance, to be “angels of peace. » To work for “the reconciliation which we need more than ever. »

In the crowd slowly converging towards the city center, Corsican elected officials are present in large numbers – more than 300 had reserved their place for the holy mass at Casone. “For us, Catholicism is cultural, a constituent element of our identity,” says Ange-Pierre Vivoni, president of the affiliation of mayors of Haute-Corse. At every excessive level within the liturgical calendar, our Christian roots resurface. Welcoming the Pope on our territory, we might by no means have imagined it. Even within the wildest desires. » According to the Church, 9 out of ten Corsicans declare themselves to be Catholic. A determine thrice increased than the nationwide common.

A “Corsican” secularism

By coming to greet this society imbued with religiosity, the Pope additionally sends a message to an more and more secularized France. Cardinal Bustillo additionally likes to evoke a “Corsican-style” secularism to outline this apply on the confluence of the cultural and the non secular which contrasts with “the tensions, conflicts, social tensions that we can sometimes observe in other land,” mentioned the Bishop of Ajaccio.

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Kangaroo of the day

Answer

In a speech with very political overtones, on the finish of the convention, the sovereign pontiff himself bluntly defended a “concept of secularism which is not fixed, but evolving and dynamic, based on constant cooperation between civil and ecclesiastical authorities. for the good of the community, each remaining within the limits of their skills and space. Benedict XVI affirmed: “healthy secularism means freeing religion from the weight of politics and enriching politics with contributions from religion, in an intertwining, an open and constant dialogue”. On these topics, you’re right here, in Corsica, a virtuous instance in Europe. »

ALSO READ Cardinal Bustillo: “Corsica is a laboratory of secularism for France” At the top of his go to, François spoke for a number of moments with Emmanuel Macron at Ajaccio airport. The Head of State made an specific journey to greet the Holy Father. Perhaps he talked about his absence – very notable – at Notre-Dame de Paris, on December 7, which had offended the French presidency a bit?