The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will participate in a significant conference in Paris on January 16, 2025. This event, taking place at the Quai d'Orsay, commemorates the centenary of the correspondence between then-Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré and Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Bonaventura Cerretti, which established important ecclesiastical associations in France.
The conference will feature key figures, including Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Celestino Migliore and the President of the French Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Éric de Moulins-Beaufort. Discussions will address the historical and legal implications of the correspondence, which was recognized by the French Council of State as an international agreement facilitating the establishment of diocesan associations.
This event holds considerable significance as it revisits the legal framework established by the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State in France. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne reaffirmed in March 2023 that the correspondence remains compliant with this law, highlighting its lasting relevance.
During his visit, Cardinal Parolin will engage in discussions with French Prime Minister François Bayrou and meet with Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, who oversees religious affairs. A meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot is also scheduled, focusing on international matters of mutual interest.
The conference is expected to shed light on the ongoing relationship between the Vatican and France, particularly in the context of contemporary ecclesiastical and diplomatic challenges.