Death of Pope Francis: the French political class, between affinity and distance

The death of Pope Francis, which took place on April 21, 2025 at the age of 88, after a pontificate marked by bold reforms and a commitment to the neediest, plunged the Catholic Church into a period of mourning and sacred transition. As foreseen by the secular tradition, a series of codified rites, combining liturgical solemnity and rigorous protocol, was set in motion to ensure the continuity of the Apostolic See. The official finding of the de…

The French politicians unanimously welcomed the figure of Pope Francis and his humanist discourse, in defence of the most vulnerable. The left is sensitive to his positions on migrants and ecology, while the right more closely embraces his views on societal issues.