“It's historic!”: a stroll in the popemobile, an open-air mass, an interview with Macron… the Pope's programme for his visit to Corsica

Pope Francis left Rome for a historic visit this Sunday, December 15, 2024, to Corsica, where Catholic faithful have begun to gather in Ajaccio for a day when the sovereign pontiff will combine a stroll in the popemobile with an open-air mass before a meeting with President Macron.

Karine Nicolaï, 50, got up at 4:00 a.m. to take a train and arrive in Ajaccio in the early morning, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope. “It's great, honestly, he's never been to Corsica! Never, never, never! It's historic!”, she confided to AFPTV.

In another street, the faithful have also been on a war footing since 6:30 a.m., like Vanina Poli, 57, who arrived on a bus “already full” at 6:05 a.m.: “Seeing the pope is a consecration […], I want him to see this incredible fervor of Corsica!”. His companion René Courbis agrees: “In Corsica, whether you're baptized or not, religious events are important. Everyone goes to the procession!”.

A week after snubbing the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris, despite the invitation of the head of state, Francis, who left Rome at 07:55 (06:55 GMT), is expected at 09:00 (08:00 GMT) at Ajaccio airport.

He will then take a crowd bath in the popemobile on the seafront of the main city of this Mediterranean island of 350,000 inhabitants, 80% of whom are Catholic, according to the Vatican.

Then, the Pope will go to the convention center to close a colloquium on “popular religiosity in the Mediterranean”, before a prayer at the cathedral at 11:20 a.m. and then a mass at 3:30 p.m. which should bring together 9,000 people at the Casone open-air theater. He will leave shortly after 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. GMT), according to the Holy See, after a meeting at the airport with Emmanuel Macron.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The visit was announced late, at the end of November, forcing a double effort to welcome the tens of thousands of people expected.

Yellow and white banners (the papal colors) in the streets, the facade of the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption cathedral repainted, mass parking bans, 2,200 reinforcements deployed for security: the city is prepared.

The Pope was invited to Corsica by Mgr François-Xavier Bustillo, 56, the very popular and media-friendly Bishop of Ajaccio, whom he had created cardinal in September 2023.

“The diocese is poor, the Corsican region is not rich” but thanks to the generosity of businesses and the faithful “we will succeed in a welcome worthy of the Pope”, he told AFP.

Thanks also toFrench “national solidarity”, specified the prefect of Corsica, Jérôme Filippini, who estimates at “several million euros” the cost of this visit of a few hours.

“No politics”

Arguing that Ajaccio remains “an open and lively city”, the prefect assured that shops and the Christmas market will be open from midday.

Near the cathedral, a colorful fresco with the appearance of street art, created by a collective of Ajaccio artists, represents Francis against a backdrop of stained glass windows and a colorful map of Corsica. The Argentine Jesuit, who will celebrate his 88th birthday two days after this trip, will give two speeches during the day.

“He is in good shape, happy to come”, assured François-Xavier Bustillo, specifying that “he is not coming here to do politics, he is coming to be a pastor among his people“.

For this third Sunday of Advent, the clergy will adorn themselves with specific colors: “We will be in pink […] a bright color that will remind us of the journey between the purple of Advent and the white of Christmas”, explains Father Georges Nicoli, parish priest of the parish of Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Bastia.

From Malta to Sicily via the Greek island of Lesbos, Francis has visited the Mediterranean basin several times, which focuses on several priorities of his pontificate, such as interreligious dialogue and welcoming migrants.

The head of the Catholic Church has already visited French territory twice since the start of his pontificate in 2013, in Strasbourg in 2014 and in Marseille in September 2023, but has never made a state visit there.

This trip to Corsica will be his 47th international trip since his election and the third in 2024.