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In the fire of Light. To Rafa Redondo (1941-2025)

You left us “with the palms of your hands to the wind, with no other handhold than the air, where the Being, my true home, breathes”. You were an attentive companion, inspired witness to the Silence, vibrant voice of the Presence “of the pure Witness that in our depth breathes, palpitates and cries out to […]

To Hélène Dupont. Obituary

In the morning of March 22, I received the following email message: “Last night, Hélène left us in her sleep, quietly, just like that. She passed away gently, with no fighting. She was efficient all her life and without making any fuss. We will miss her”. These words express all the essentials with the sober […]

Four Synods and clericalism remains intact

I cannot say that I was disappointed by the Synod’s Final Document on Synodality, because disappointment is only possible when there are expectations. But I feel deeply sorry for so many men and women (especially women) who had said to themselves, “This time yes, the Synod will succeed! May God be blessed!” Yes, may Life, […]

Facing the horror of Gaza, one year later

There are no words to express it, only astonishment and questions: how have we all arrived, each one on his own path of misdirection, at this madness that plunges two brotherly peoples into this escalation of hatred and revenge, of despair and death? How have Israel and Palestine become a tragic parable of the misfortune […]

Should we be erasing Abbé Pierre’s name for good?

The erasing has begun: the Fondation Abbé Pierre has decided to change its name. Emmaüs has closed the memorial dedicated to him in Esteville, near Rouen, and is going to change its logo. But beyond that, a vast name change movement has been launched across the country. Is it necessary? Is anything else possible? Abbé […]

The Synod at a dead end

I did not expect that this fourth Synod of Pope Francis’ pontificate, like the first three, would take a decisive step towards the urgent and absolutely necessary institutional reform of the Roman Catholic Church. Considering what we have seen so far, I could not think that he could carry out the indispensable condition of such […]

The greatest risque

Our job is to try to be a point of orientation. It is not to try to have a balanced position, because there are issues where we clearly put words to what happens. Now, clearly, we needed to be able to say, and we have maintained, and we have been right to do so, that […]

Excommunicating the Poor Clares in 2024?

I find the story of the convent of the Poor Clare Sisters of Belorado over the last few months both ludicrous and distressing. Whichever way you look at it, it is distressing for the Poor Clare Sisters. Ludicrous, as far as all the other players are concerned. The figure of the “schismatic” bishop accompanied by […]