Pope Leo XIV has called on the Catholic Church in France to draw inspiration from three of its most beloved saints as the nation marks the 100th anniversary of their canonization.
Newsroom (June 02, 2025, 10:07, Gaudium Press) In a message to the French bishops’ conference, the pontiff highlighted the enduring relevance of Saint John Eudes, Saint John Mary Vianney (the Curé of Ars), and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux for today’s “spiritually hungry” world.
A Timeless Model of Love for Christ
The Pope emphasized that despite living in different centuries, all three saints shared a common trait: “a tender, unreserved love for Jesus Christ” that transformed their lives and ministries. He quoted Pope Francis’s encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus Dilexit nos, calling Christ’s love “an unending fountain” capable of renewing humanity. “That stream which is never exhausted, never passes away … offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity”
Three Saints, One Burning Love
The pontiff devoted significant attention to what he called the “common fire” uniting these diverse saints: their “total, consuming love for Jesus Christ.” He noted how each manifested this love differently:
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Saint John Eudes, the 17th-century priest and founder, developed the liturgical devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, “teaching the Church that divine love is not abstract but beats in a human heart.”
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Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, “burned with such love for Christ that he would spend 16 hours daily in the confessional,” drawing thousands to his rural parish in Ars.
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Saint Thérèse, the Doctor of the Church, “revealed how perfect love could be found in small, daily sacrifices” through her “Little Way.”
A Response to Modern Challenges
The message comes as the Church in France faces declining vocations, secularization, and growing indifference to faith. The Pope urged bishops to present these saints not merely as historical figures, but as living guides for evangelization.
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For priests, he held up the Curé of Ars as a model of perseverance in ministry, thanking France’s clergy for their “often-hidden heroism.”
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For young people, he suggested Saints John Eudes and Vianney could rekindle enthusiasm for priestly and religious vocations.
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For ordinary Catholics, he cited Thérèse’s “little way” as an answer to modern spiritual restlessness.
A Call to Move Beyond Nostalgia
While acknowledging France’s deep Christian heritage, Pope Leo warned against mere nostalgia. “This centenary must be a seed of hope, not a museum exhibit,” he wrote, adding that the same faith that produced these saints still lives in France’s parishes and families.
He linked their witness to contemporary struggles, noting that Thérèse—patroness of missions—proves holiness thrives even in “small, hidden acts,” while Vianney’s tireless confessions remind the Church of mercy’s power.
A Blessing for the Faithful
Closing with an invocation to Our Lady of the Assumption, France’s patroness, the Pope assured the faithful of his prayers and imparted his apostolic blessing. “Through these saints’ intercession,” he wrote, “may France rediscover that Christ’s resurrection is stronger than any wave of doubt or indifference.”
- Raju Hasmukh
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