It has been 500 years since a pope set foot in Marseille. On September 23, Pope Francis is expected in the second city of France, at the conclusion of the Mediterranean Meetings hosted by the Phocaean city. During a press briefing this Friday, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, gave the “ingredients”, to use his terms, which will make up this much-awaited visit by the sovereign pontiff. A visit that is intended to reflect the city of Marseille and the people of Marseille.
20 minutes takes stock of the program for this papal stopover, the outlines of which are taking shape.
A climb to the Good Mother
The Pope is expected on September 23 in the morning for a round trip during the day. For his visit, the archdiocese contacted a 100% Marseille program, with, as an aperitif, a climb to Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde for the head of the Vatican. “I wanted him to do like the people of Marseilles,” smiles Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline. I see it, it’s something they do when they have both positive and negative things in their lives, and not just Christians. They go up to the Good Mother to put a candle and say a prayer. It’s a way of life here. »
A moment of contemplation for migrants
Arrived at the Good Mother, after about twenty minutes spent in the basilica, the Pope will head towards the Camargue cross, on the esplanade of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. There is a stele in homage to the sailors who died at sea, and especially, recently, to the migrants who also died at sea. “We are planning a time of ecumenical meditation in homage to these migrants, specifies the cardinal. It is not a political posture which consists of taking a position in a complicated debate, but it is necessary to recall the respect for all human life. It will last between twenty and thirty minutes each time, so it has to be short but strong. This tribute will take place on the eve of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
A visit to the Pharo
The Pope will then make a detour to the Pharo, more precisely in the underground amphitheater of 900 places of the majestic palace which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the Old Port of Marseille. On the program: to conclude the Mediterranean Meetings, in which some sixty representatives of Churches from the five shores of the Mediterranean will take part. The pope will exchange with 70 young people and 70 bishops from the Mediterranean, the French episcopate and the diplomatic corps.
A lunch with the poorest
Mgr Aveline then wanted to organize a meeting between the Pope and the destitute Marseillais, in terms that remain to be determined, in particular for security reasons. “The Pope does not want to come to Marseilles and see only the Good Mother and the Pharo,” says the archbishop.
A mass at the Velodrome
This will be the highlight of this visit. The Pope will give a mass for about an hour and a half in the temple of the Olympique de Marseille, where the people of Marseille usually celebrate other gods, living ones, with famous fervor. “It was a bit complicated but it’s behind us,” smiles Bishop Aveline. We were very attached to the stadium from a symbolic point of view. We had thought of the hippodrome, which is bigger, but it doesn’t have the same attachment. Deprived of part of the North turn, the Pope being in front, the stadium will have an estimated capacity of 57,000 people, including 8,000 on the lawn. “We will put in front of the sick and the young”, specifies the cardinal. In the available places of the North bend will sit 1,000 choristers who are already rehearsing their repertoire. “We will also have 150 bishops and between 600 and 1,000 priests,” said Bishop Aveline.
The archdiocese expects the places to attend mass in the stadium to be taken by storm. “Today, the best advice we can give to someone who wants to attend this mass is to get closer to a parish,” the cardinal recommends. The parishes must indeed send before July 1st a list of names of people wishing to take part in this event. “All of this will then go through the OM ticket office in September,” adds Bishop Aveline. Aware that Catholics will quickly be cramped in the stadium, the archbishop is trying to find a solution to allow everyone to experience this unique mass. “Probably, it will be necessary to manage an extension, around the stadium”, supposes the cardinal. However, the location remains to be determined, in particular for security reasons. “We thought of the Prado beaches, but it’s a bit far from the stadium,” he says.
Ships to house Christians
While the number of people who will make the trip remains unknown to date, the organizers are already thinking about the logistics. With in particular this crucial answer: where to house all these beautiful people? That weekend, Marseille indeed hosts other major events, such as the fair and the Rugby World Cup. There is reason to fear a saturation in the accommodation offer. “We are going to have ferries at our disposal to accommodate people,” rejoices Bishop Aveline. From Thursday to Sunday there will be a Corsica Linea ferry with 1,600 seats. And from Saturday to Sunday, a cruise ship from Norwegian Cruise Lines with 4,800 seats on board. »
A costly event
All this has a cost, which the archbishop refuses to communicate, however. “I can tell you that it’s a big budget, and one that can increase even further,” says Bishop Aveline. Just for the Velodrome, it costs us 800,000 euros. To finance this, we are going to call on a team of sponsors and donors. Local communities are also contributing. Thus, the Pharo will be made available by the city of Marseille free of charge.
An uncertain program
The content of this program remains however dependent on an unknown fact: the Pope’s state of health. “We remain cautious,” explains Bishop Aveline. These are the ingredients of his visit, but until the end, the visit will be based on the state of health of Pope Francis. 86-year-old Pope Francis left the hospital on Friday after a ten-day stay following an abdominal operation.