Charles de Foucault, author of “Reconnaissance in Morocco”, was declared a saint by the Pope

sAmong those who were canonized on Sunday, May 15, were the French religious Marie Rivière, César de Bus and Charles de Foucault, who made an expedition to Morocco in 1883, as well as the Dutch priest and journalist Titus Brandsma.

Ceremony and certificates

Pope Francis presided over the ceremony along with about fifty cardinals and about 300 priests and bishops, including the Archbishop of Rabat, Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, accompanied by the Apostolic Archdiocese of Laayoune and the Apostolic Director of the Diocese of Tangiers, who were at the head of a delegation of about twenty people from Morocco.

“Unfortunately, the distances in the world are increasing, the tensions and wars are increasing”The Pope confirmed, wishing these new saints so “To inspire unified solutions and means of dialogue, especially in the hearts and minds of those who occupy positions of great responsibility and are called to be champions of peace, not war.”

Early on Sunday, groups of pilgrims began flocking to the world’s largest basilica, where they hung pictures of the new church. “Saints”. The last Holy Mass was celebrated in October 2019, a few months before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greetings to Rabat and Tangiers

In 1883-84, Charles de Foucault traveled through Morocco for twelve months disguised as a Jewish traveler, armed with a notebook and pencil. In 1885 he wrote recognition of MoroccoA newspaper rich with information on “Modern Morocco”, which won the gold medal of the Geographical Society in Paris.

The process of canonizing this man who was assassinated in 1916 in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, began in the 1930s, and Pope Benedict XVI declared him “blessed” in 2005.

The cathedrals of Tangiers and Rabat will hold festivities on May 22 and 29, respectively, in honor of Charles de Foucault.

(with map)