Pope Francis made history on Sunday as the first pontiff to visit Corsica, the French Mediterranean island, during a brief trip focused on faith and the region's cultural heritage.
Pope Francis has made a historic trip to Corsica, becoming the first pope to visit the French Mediterranean island. Landing in the capital city of Ajaccio on Sunday, the visit marks his 47th foreign trip since taking the papal office in 2013.
The pontiff's itinerary includes addressing a conference on popular religiosity across the Mediterranean region, a subject that reflects the deep cultural and religious traditions of the area. Corsica, known for its stunning mountainous landscapes and as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, holds significant historical and cultural importance as the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean.
With an estimated 81.5% of its 356,000 residents identifying as Catholic, Corsica remains a deeply religious region. However, the island faces ongoing economic challenges, with approximately 20% of its population living below the poverty line.
During his visit, Pope Francis is expected to meet with Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, who has led the Catholic Church in Corsica since 2021 and was elevated to cardinal by the pope in 2023. The trip continues Pope Francis’s focus on the Mediterranean region, following his previous visits to Malta, Lesbos, and Lampedusa, where he emphasized themes of migration, faith, and solidarity.
This unprecedented visit underlines the Vatican’s commitment to addressing both spiritual and social issues in the Mediterranean, a region that remains a key focus for the pontiff's papacy.
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Donald Trump said talks between his envoy and Vladimir Putin made major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, urging Kyiv and Moscow to meet face-to-face.
Estonia has passed a €2.8 billion defense funding bill, raising military spending to over 5% of GDP amid growing security concerns over Russia.
George Santos, a former U.S. congressman, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
The World Food Programme has warned that its food supplies in Gaza have run out, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk as charity kitchens face imminent shutdown.
Iran and the U.S. are set for a third round of indirect talks in Muscat, focusing on sanctions relief and guarantees over Iran’s nuclear program.
Donald Trump said talks between his envoy and Vladimir Putin made major progress toward ending the Ukraine war, urging Kyiv and Moscow to meet face-to-face.
Estonia has passed a €2.8 billion defense funding bill, raising military spending to over 5% of GDP amid growing security concerns over Russia.
George Santos, a former U.S. congressman, has been sentenced to over seven years in prison after being convicted of fraud and identity theft.
The World Food Programme has warned that its food supplies in Gaza have run out, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk as charity kitchens face imminent shutdown.
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