Alain Juppé and Luc Ravel at the Palace of the Archbishops of Narbonne

Alain Juppé est aujourd’hui membre du Conseil constitutionnel et Mgr Ravel fut archevêque de Strasbourg jusqu’en 2023. – DR

Samedi 27 avril, le rendez-vous annuel de l’association Saint Just Occitanie rapprochera l’ex-Premier ministre et l’ex-archevêque de Strasbourg.

Each year, the Saint Just Occitanie association offers, through its Franciscan Conferences, an atypical meeting confronting a national political personality and a figure of the ;Church of France.

Several ministers of state were thus invited to the Palais des archbishops of Narbonne to discuss with leading French prelates, around current issues, on a more cultural than religious register .

The 2024 edition brings together, this Saturday, April 27, from 2:30 p.m., Alain Juppé and Luc Ravel on the platform of the Synod Hall.

Should we introduce the former Prime Minister who, in addition to several other ministries, was mayor of Bordeaux for more than twelve years ? He is today a member of the Constitutional Council.

As for Mgr Luc Ravel, polytechnician ordained priest in 1988, member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences since 2022, he was notably Archbishop of Strasbourg until May 2023 .

Encouragement from Pope Francis!

This cycle of meetings was initiated twenty years ago by the Franciscan brother François Bustillo, then at the head of the Narbonne parish of Saint Bonaventure. Brother François became Mgr Bustillo, Bishop of Ajaccio, on May 11, 2021, before Pope Francis made him cardinal on September 30, 2023.

The 2024 edition of this original initiative is therefore the 20th vintage of the meeting. And to accompany the anniversary, what was the surprise of the organizers to receive a letter signed by the Pope himself, dated last March 22: "I congratulate you and encourage you, writes François, for this audacious missionary approach in the diocese of Carcassonne-Narbonne. Our society needs to create links so that people can listen to each other, respect each other and live a harmonious coexistence. Promoting places where pastors and elected officials dialogue is an original intuition. Everyone, continues the Pope, must never forget the goal of their mission: the Common Good, concern for people, especially the most vulnerable. I invite you to continue to open paths so that your fortune-telling inspires behaviors and attitudes capable of facilitating the meeting between men and women from different backgrounds but who are part of the same human family. I therefore give you my blessing to continue your mission of cultural dialogue."

With such encouragement, whatever the opinions and convictions of each person, the debate is likely to live up to the anniversary!

Saturday April 27, from 2:30 p.m., Synod hall of Narbonne town hall. Free admission. More on the site: saintjust.eu