The day after the deadly attack, the Pope had condemned it “in the strongest terms” and expressed his solidarity with the victims and the French people. This closeness was reiterated during the Angelus prayer the following Sunday.
This Saturday at noon, in the Paul VI hall, he will receive all the victims and their families in a private audience “without distinction of religion.”
Bishop André Marceau of Nice will accompany them to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis.
The president of the PACA region, Christian Estrosi, explained that the families would be accompanied by members of Alpes-Maritimes Fraternité, an association for dialogue between Christians, Jews, and Muslims, bringing together representatives of all religious sensitivities.
“This will be the largest gathering since July 14. It is, away from manipulations, a breath of hope towards the future,” he stated.
Logistics and organization are provided by the city of Nice. “Two planes, chartered with assistance from Air France, will mainly transport the physically injured and bereaved families. Indirect victims and those in shock will leave by bus the day before,” the city hall’s press office explained.
Sign of these times where nothing pleases everyone and everything is an occasion for dispute and controversy, this trip has prompted an outcry from the Human Rights League (LDH):
“If it turns out that some of the costs related to this trip will remain the responsibility of the local community, we will call on the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes to exercise legal control over the resolution authorizing this illegal expenditure, as it contradicts the principles set by the 1905 law. Nice citizens are forced to finance through their taxes a pilgrimage to the Vatican, an operation of religious and, above all, electoral nature. Since the victims come from all faiths, should we soon expect to fund a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Mecca, or Benares?”
Green municipal councilors have also deplored Mr. Estrosi’s initiative, which they say was taken without the municipal council’s advice.
Such an act would have been a mere formality, given the overwhelming majority: It is known that Christian Estrosi is in the orbit of Nicolas Sarkozy, a proponent of “vertical” democracy.
As for LDH’s criticisms, the political recovery of this trip by Christian Estrosi has been anything but discreet.
Furthermore, in politics…
