In secularised France

Pope Benedict XVI has two goals with his visit to France, Cotidianul newspaper writes. "On the one hand the Pope is attempting to revive Catholicism in Europe, and here France represents a major hurdle. Of the 65 percent of the French who tick the 'Catholic' box in population censuses, only one fifth go to church at least once a month. The French crusade seemed like an 'unattainable mission' from the word go, not just because of French secularism, but also because of the new Pope, who is less popular and more dogmatic than John Paul II. ... By contrast, Nicolas Sarkozy had hoped the Pope's visit would be a boon to him in the next elections. ... Sarkozy is no adamant Christian. With three marriages behind him he makes no bones about only visiting the church 'from time to time'. Now he is trying to restore the culture of the religious wars in France."

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