His face

Is he a Head of State, “as he is defined by the French Presidency”, or a pilgrim “as he is addressed in Lourdes”? Which of these capacities will mark Benedict XVI’s first visit to France?” According to French Catholic weekly “Pèlerin”, whose report is posted on the website of the daily “La Croix”, (www.la-croix.com), the apostolic visit which begins today, September 12, could be described as “two visits in one”. Accordingly, the Pontiff is presented as “head of State, shepherd, pilgrim, man of culture and dialogue who never renounces his quest for truth”. The “head of State”. “He will firstly be received in the Presidential building – states the report – Thus, Benedict XVI’s arrival to France is primarily that of a head of State. Will he comment on the address delivered by Nicolas Sarkozy past December at the Lateran, as the President’s entourage expect him to do?” “While concerned about preserving the accomplished equilibrium – there is no scot-free debate over the 1905 law – bishops and church movements reacted with mild enthusiasm to the ‘positive secularity’ announced by Sarkozy – reported La Croix -. Will the pope’s response tone down the polemics sparked off within French public opinion?” According to philosopher Thibaud Collin, “Sarkozy’s speech is in line with what has been written by most contemporary popes regarding the political and social dimension of Christian commitment”. But Benedict XVI, yearning to establish a dialogue with society as a whole, is not content with the minimum common denominator. Being a theologian, he will most likely focus on the ongoing quest for truth and justice”. “This is a demanding language – is the comment of the Catholic daily – which, in the sphere of the respect for life from beginning to end might recall the words pronounced by John Paul II, whose firm moral teaching was the object of much criticism in France”.The shepherd. The Pope, “who is first and foremost a shepherd”, devoted a “privileged space on his agenda” to the youth, whose reception “is expected to be very warm – remarked father Jacques Gagey, general chaplain of French Scouts and guides (Sgdf, 60thousand members), who said – the arrival of a pope is the moment when the church, asleep in the hearts of the youth, is spontaneously manifested”. Nonetheless, “Will Benedict XVI find the right words to communicate with French youth, over 40% of whom describe themselves as non-believers?” wonders la Croix. To them, the Pope “clarifies the content of faith – replies Msgr. Benoit Rivière, bishop of Autun and responsible for pastoral youth care -. As a catechist, he tells the youth that faith doesn’t only come from the heart, it requires also the adhesion of one’s intelligence”. “As the pedagogue of faith – points out the Catholic daily – Benedict XVI turned ecology into one of his favorite subjects. His reflection over this topic will have a positive echo that will reach far beyond the sphere of believers”, since “environmental protection is the major concern of the young generations”. The pilgrim. As pilgrim in Lourdes, the Pope will bestow upon ten sick persons the anointing of the diseased. “This is highly significant”, pointed out Erik Pillet, president of l’Arche in France. Since “reiterating, in the name of the Gospel, the central role that the weak deserve, entails questioning the very foundations of our society. Do we want there to be a cult of performance and success, or would we rather encourage support to the other in need?”.A man of culture. How will “the legendary spiritual agility of Joseph Razinger affect the hundreds of intellectuals, artists and opinion leaders” whom he will meet at the Collège del Bernardins?, is the question raised by La Croix. Will the Pope be compelled to “water down his wine?”. “While John Paul II accused philosophy of having excluded God from the realm of thought, Benedict XVI sees in this patrimony a positive test for faith. This disposition of the spirit should enable him to find the right register”, claims historian Philippe Levillain. Msgr. Maurice de Germiny, bishop of Blois and president of the “Faith and Culture” observatory, looks forward to “a significant gesture towards artists” by Benedict XVI, since the Church cannot be indifferent to “the works created by musicians, painters and sculptors”. We must be “at the cross roads of what society says and lives”. For the Catholic daily there are still unanswered questions: beyond the image of a “conservative pope” as he was painted after his election, will Benedict XVI be “in his own manner and style, the Pope of openness that France is awaiting? Will he be able to reach out to all the French by speaking the same tongue?”.