Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to France is drawing attention to the country’s system of strict secularism, known as “laïcité.” Multiple outlets say the trip comes as a public lens is placed on how France separates religion from state affairs, while still dealing with the visibility and influence of historic religious institutions.
RFI notes that the visit highlights ongoing tension between French secular principles and Catholicism’s role in public life. The Independent and ABC News focus more broadly on how France applies laïcité in practice as preparation for the papal visit proceeds. While they all link the timing of the trip to the secularism debate, the outlets differ in emphasis: some foreground the legal and cultural framework of laïcité, while others stress the specific strain that can emerge when Catholicism intersects with public institutions.
