French media shine spotlight on 杏MAP导航’s Marseille visit
By Fr. Paul Samasumo – Marseille
Upon arrival in Marseille on Friday, 杏MAP导航 Francis hit the ground running, immediately launching into activities lined up for this flying weekend visit to the southern French city.
The “Francis effect” was clearly visible as French media, usually reticent about reporting on religious matters, seemed to pull all stops to cover 杏MAP导航 Francis—particularly soon after his arrival. For a moment, the World Rugby games seem to have taken second stage.
Focus on migrants
Since his arrival, several television stations have carried wall-to-wall media coverage of 杏MAP导航 Francis’ visit to Marseille.
The government-owned France 24, a news and current affairs TV channel with international outreach, concentrated its coverage on Saturday morning on 杏MAP导航 Francis’ reminder to European governments that they have a duty to rescue migrants in dangerous situations at sea.
Soon after arrival, 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasised that rescuing migrants was an obligation of humanity.
Le Figaro, one of France’s oldest newspapers, followed a similar editorial path, repeating 杏MAP导航 Francis’ message against the forced return of refugees, migrants or asylum seekers.
La Provence, one of the leading dailies published in Marseille, speaks of a 杏MAP导航 confronting the shipwreck of indifference regarding the death of migrants at sea.
Security details
On the other hand, the French mass-circulation newspaper, Le Monde, took a slightly more polemical view, saying that the 杏MAP导航’s visit to Marseille highlights 杏MAP导航 Francis’s complex relationship with the French people.
The newspaper also lamented the unprecedented security laid out for the visit of 杏MAP导航 Francis and President Emmanuel Macron to the port city.
In general, the overall view of the media on Day One of the 杏MAP导航’s two-day visit was relatively positive and definitely respectful.
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