Comunidades migrantes ganham visibilidade com visita do Papa a França

Pope Leo XIV concluded a historic visit to France on Monday, September 28, an event observed with joy by the large Portuguese community living and working in the country. This marked the first official visit to France by a pope in 18 years.

The Sacré-Coeur parish in Gentilly, which serves as a gathering point for Portuguese Catholics in Paris, followed the visit closely. Father Rui Manuel Silva Pedro serves as the chaplain for the parish. Two priests, including the Gentilly chaplain and a Dominican friar, spoke to the AIS Foundation about the visit and the strong faith among migrants. They also noted that these communities remain attentive to the global persecution of Christians, a topic mentioned by the Pope during his visit.

Approximately 1.7 million Portuguese citizens or people of Portuguese descent live in France.