In this special year, marked once again by the Covid-19 epidemic, the Bishop of Chartres evokes, at Christmas time, the theme of hope which is dear to him, but also the news of Catholic Church.
The Christmas holidays will once again be marked by the health situation. How to handle things?
The Christmas celebrations will take place without restriction in number but, of course, always with the vigilance of barrier gestures. It is true that because of the current health situation, some elderly people or people whose health is precarious will perhaps not come to celebrate Christmas masses, but I want to tell all the faithful to come, simply. The space is large and Chartres Cathedral is very large.
Bertrand Naveau ordained deacon by the Bishop of Chartres
Recently, you have chosen to insist on the theme of hope. What does this mean?
It’s a theme that I really like, people are sensitive to this word. God is with us in these moments of illness, these social uncertainties, in front of the big questions of migration or ecology. Hope is both an act of faith, but also a very human act.
It is a gift that I receive from God and that I want to give to others.
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It is a look at life, at the human person. There are, for example, so many young people in difficulty. When I go through classes in college, I try to pull them up, that’s also what, to give hope. It is a gift that I receive from God and that I want to give to others.
This year has been rich in news for the Church: the recent visit of Pope Francis to the island of Lesbos, but also and above all, the Sauvé report …
The Pope has this desire to take note that the migrants are there and when they are there, they must be given a life of dignity. The twenty-seven migrants who died in the Channel (November 24, between France and England) were not at all people on the margins, they were only looking for a future for their life, for their family. If they leave their land, it is because they cannot live there. The role of the Church, when a brother is in pain, is to ask herself what she can do for him.
With regard to sexual abuse in the Church, this question has been with us for years. The Sauvé report objectified what happened, thanks to a very thorough investigation. Certainly, this investigation has freed some people to express themselves and that is a good thing. For us, there remains the question of solidarity relating to money: how to make a contribution?
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premium Sexual abuse in the Church: a victim testifies during an exchange session organized at the Visitation, in Chartres
The diocese of Eure-et-Loir has no cash in advance, but we have chosen to release 125,000 euros to contribute to the solidarity fund, before the end of December. These victims who can sometimes no longer appeal to justice when the facts are prescribed, are also people to consider in their suffering.
What will be the challenges for the Church for the coming year?
What resides in me is to continue in our presence with the elderly, in hospitals. With the pandemic, we have struggled to ensure this presence.
Young people are also an important issue. There are 11,500 students in the Catholic establishments of the department. The teaching teams were very generous but also very tired by the health constraints.
Diakonia is also fundamental. We must succeed in bringing together all those involved in solidarity and charitable activities, in order to then see how to go further in order to meet people’s needs.
premium Meeting with the new face at the head of Protestants in Eure-et-Loir
One last word ?
Our civil society is facing great challenges and it is always when we agree to listen to ourselves that we can really move forward. My wish would be for the Church to be a partner in these questions of secular solidarity so that collaboration is possible. We need to work together to find innovative solutions on these issues. I don’t have a political role, but if I can be a voice that conveys a message of intelligent collaboration and mutual listening, then so much the better …
Interview by Laura Alliche
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