French bishops visiting “support”

A first symbolic gesture. After its election in the spring and its official entry in office on July 1, 2025, the new presidency of the Conference of Bishops of France decided to start its mandate by an important visit: a trip to the Holy Land, from August 16 to 20, 2025. The objective is to mark the “support of our church, not only to the Christian communities but also to all the friends of the peace”, details the press release announcing this trip, published on August 10, 2025.

“In an extremely painful and uncertain period”, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of CEF, and Mgrs Vincent Jordy and Benoît Bertrand, vice-presidents, want to “demonstrate the support of our Church, not only to Christian communities but also to all friends of peace, whatever their convictions or their religions”. The press release thus recognizes both the “formidable humanitarian tragedy in Gaza” and “the endless expectation of the liberation of Israeli hostages”.

For the moment, the program for this four -day visit has not been announced by the CEF. However, it occurs when concerns are growing on the worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza where emergency aid is lacking.

It also takes place when the Israeli government seems determined to invade the entire Gaza Strip, a decision widely denounced by the international community. It is also feared by families of Israeli hostages, they fearing for the lives of their loved ones in the hands of Hamas.

Spina case: a controversial appointment

In addition, the press release from the Cef presidency is an opportunity for her to return to a controversy concerning the “painful question of abuses committed within (of the church)”: the decision of the Archbishop of Toulouse, Mgr Guy de Kerimel, to appoint the Diocesan Chancellor Diocesan Spina, sentenced in 2006 for rape on minor. If this function is essentially administrative, it is nonetheless essential in the life and functioning of a diocese. Because of its importance, canon law requires as well as that which exercises this charge is of a “reputation integrates and above all suspicion”.

While the question of abuse requires “a long and demanding conversion work, underlines the presidency of the CEF, we have initiated a constructive dialogue with Mgr Guy of Kerimel, inviting him to reconsider the decision he had taken about the appointment of the chancellor of his diocese”. If the tone remains polite, it is particularly notable that Cardinal Avline and the two vice-presidents cite the Archbishop of Toulouse namely to exhort to return to the appointment of Father Spina. This arrest also recalls that the management of an episcopal conference has no authority over the bishops and archbishops who compose it.

For the time being, Mgr de Kerimel has not reacted. Announced on July 1, his decision to appoint Father Spina as Vhancelier-he was until then vice-Chancellor-almost immediately aroused controversy. In a declaration of July 10, wanting to avoid “the distorting prism of the press”, he had justified his decision in the name of “mercy”. Recalling that Father Spina had brought the prison sentence to which an assize court had condemned him, he claimed: “Not to have mercy is to lock up the author of the abuse in a social death; It is to restore a form of death. ”