France engulfed in secularism row over tributes to Pope

While France has decided to put the flags at half-mast on the occasion of Pope Francis' funeral, several political voices denounce a breach of the principle of secularism. Explanations.

The decision of the French government to allow the half-masting of the flags for the death of the Pope next Saturday makes a few teeth gnawing, voices believing that this violates the principle of secularism. While conservatives and believers are obviously delighted... Should France, often referred to as "the eldest daughter of the Church", adopt a stricter neutrality towards all religions, without exception? Accused of being a "laicard" by cons…

France engulfed in secularism row over tributes to Pope

It was perhaps inevitable, but planned tributes in France following the death of Pope Francis have led to a row about the principle of state secularism.

"I am in total disagreement, for secularism has principles." At the micro de franceinfo, Tuesday, April 22, Alexis Corbière strongly criticized the tribute of France to Pope Francis. Indeed, the state announced that it would put flags on public buildings on the day of the funerals of the pontiff, this Saturday. A choice that provoked the anger of the ecologist, who denounced a "form of secularity with variable geometry." If "it is normal for the…

The office of the Prime Minister of France, François Bayrou, ordered the flags to wave half-assed after the death of Pope Francis, but this generated controversy in a secular country, Paris media reported. "After the death of Pope Francis, the government has decided that the flags will fly half-assed in public buildings on the day of his solemn funeral," said the office of Prime Minister Bayrou. But the decision was not to the liking of all sect…

The announcement of the half-masting of the French flags, on the day of the burial of Pope Francis, arouses the indignation of a part of the left, which sees it as an attack on secularism. However, this practice is a traditional practice when the head of state of a friendly country dies.