Pope Francis has returned to Rome after his last international trip of 2024, a 12-hour visit to Ajaccio, France. The Pope’s 47th apostolic journey took him to the French island of Corsica, where he participated in the conference’s closing ceremony “Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean.” During the ceremony, Pope Francis emphasised that faith is not a private matter and encouraged popular piety to nourish constructive citizenship among Christians.
The Pope also met with local clergy and members of the consecrated life, celebrated Mass in Place d’Austerlitz, and held a private meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. Bishops from Italy, France, and Spain, as well as members of various brotherhoods, attended the congress on popular religiosity. Pope Francis’ visit to Corsica marked the end of his international trips for 2024, and he has returned to Rome after a short one-hour flight.