This year, mgr. Jean-Yves Riocreux, bishop of Pontoise, decided to celebrate Mass on Christmas night at Villiers-le-Bel, the neighbourhood north of Paris where in late November the death of two boys aged 15 and 16 had unleashed a protest riot which in just a few hours had also involved the nearby boroughs. This is how the bishop explains his decision: "in late November, Villiers-le-Bel instantly made the headlines, not just in France but all over the world". "And the face shown by the TV screens and by the papers was catastrophic. Of course, this does not reflect the nice reality that is experienced in this neighbourhood every day". It is to show the true "face" of the neighbourhood that this year the bishop decided to celebrate Christmas Mass here. "We will pray together says the bishop , children and adults, and we will find out that this city is also a place of socialisation, peace, love and hope". It is not by chance that the vigil before Mass will be focussed on "Peace to the men whom God loves" and will be enlivened with biblical plays and music.
