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“Our Only Weapon Is Love”: French Catholic Church Calls for Listening to Young People and Ending Violence
Demands for better education, affordable housing and greater purchasing power continue to fuel protests despite measures announced by the French government. Religious leaders in Paris, Lyon, Agen and Le Havre are urging dialogue, meaningful policy responses and solidarity with those affected by the unrest.
Ana Paula Morales (Poli)
10/29/20265 min read
Demonstrations near Porte Saint-Denis in Paris on October 17, 2026, amid ongoing social protests across France. Photo: Jules* / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
FRANCE — Listen to young people’s concerns, address their legitimate demands and put an end to violence. That is the message emerging from statements issued by Catholic Church leaders in France as student demonstrations and broader social protests continue throughout October. Despite government measures aimed at addressing the education crisis, protest organizers have maintained their calls for further demonstrations, prompting Church leaders to emphasize the distinction between legitimate demands for justice and the violence that has accompanied some gatherings.
“Our Only Weapon Is Self-Giving Love” is the title of an October 22 letter issued by youth ministry leaders of the French Bishops’ Conference, the body representing the country’s Catholic bishops. The letter was signed by Bishop Jean-Philippe Nault, the bishop overseeing youth ministry, and Father Christophe Danset, the national delegate. Both acknowledge that the protests reflect deep anxiety about the future and a search for meaning, while expressing concern over the looting, property damage and confrontations that have accompanied some demonstrations.
What Are Young People Demanding?
The movement has brought together specific demands concerning educational conditions and young people’s ability to build independent lives. According to an AFP report published by TV5MONDE, high school students are calling for a major overhaul or outright abolition of Parcoursup, France’s centralized college admissions platform. Their demands also include changes to school schedules, replacements for absent teachers, smaller class sizes and renovations to aging school buildings, including improvements to help classrooms withstand extreme heat.
University students, meanwhile, are demanding more places at public higher education institutions, reforms to the scholarship system, a monthly increase of 200 euros in financial aid and renovations to deteriorating student housing. AFP reports that these demands are part of a broader wave of social discontent over wages, rising food and energy costs, housing affordability and the condition of public services. Labor unions are also calling for stronger purchasing power and greater tax and social fairness.
On October 26, the French government announced a series of measures, including changes to Parcoursup beginning in 2027 and plans to replace the platform in 2028, subject to legislative approval. According to another AFP report carried by TV5MONDE, the government also pledged to create 15,000 additional places in higher education, adjust scholarships for inflation and launch a 5-billion-euro school renovation program, largely financed through low-interest loans to local governments.
The proposals also call for gradually reducing class sizes to a maximum of 28 students in seconde, the first year of France’s three-year high school program, beginning with schools serving the most disadvantaged communities. However, student and high school organizations have dismissed the announcements as insufficient and called for continued mobilization, according to AFP.
The protests have already expanded well beyond educational issues. According to an October 25 Reuters report, France’s Interior Ministry recorded 410,000 participants in demonstrations held Saturday, October 24. Although a substantial police presence helped limit disturbances compared with the previous weekend, clashes still broke out in cities including Paris and Marseille. Several organizations announced additional demonstrations for October 31 and a nationwide strike for November 5.
French Bishops Draw a Line Between Legitimate Demands and Looting
The leadership of the French Bishops’ Conference addressed the unrest in an October 19 statement signed by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline and conference vice presidents Bishop Vincent Jordy and Bishop Benoît Bertrand. The bishops expressed solidarity with those injured and business owners affected by the violence, condemned attacks and called for legitimate demands to be heard and addressed through dialogue and justice.
In Paris, Archbishop Laurent Ulrich warned of a troubling consequence of the unrest: Violence can drown out the legitimate concerns of demonstrators, particularly young people struggling to establish themselves in adult life. In his October 19 message, he drew attention to those injured, businesses damaged, journalists assaulted and families afraid to leave their homes. He called on Catholics to become involved, offer comfort and work toward mutual understanding.
In Lyon, the unrest even disrupted an interfaith peace initiative. Archbishop Olivier de Germay said local authorities had requested the postponement of a march organized with Muslims, Jews and Christians from other denominations because of the violence. In statements published by the archdiocese, the archbishop acknowledged the depth of public frustration but argued that confrontations and looting only deepen injustice and division. He also expressed solidarity with those who had intended to demonstrate peacefully.
In Agen, Bishop Alexandre de Bucy acknowledged concerns about the rising cost of living and demands for greater investment in education. “Breaking things, looting and giving way to violence lead nowhere and build nothing,” he said in his October 19 statement. The bishop encouraged parishes to pray for dialogue, justice and peace, and announced liturgical celebrations using prayers from the Roman Missal designated for times of serious difficulty.
In Le Havre, religious leaders were particularly direct about the need for a political response. Their joint statement, dated October 23 and published by the diocese the following day, condemned the violence while recognizing genuine frustration among young people. “Are the young people in our society being heard?” they asked. The religious leaders called for a response that goes beyond simply listening, urging meaningful recognition and concrete measures that address young people’s expectations, particularly amid a growing social divide that makes it increasingly difficult for many to live with dignity.
Pope Leo XIV’s Message at the Heart of the Appeal
The youth ministry letter places Christian engagement within this wider climate of unrest. Drawing on teachings delivered by Pope Leo XIV during his recent meeting with young people in France, it encourages young Catholics to reject pride, violence and greed, pursue justice, charity and gentleness, and stand up for what they believe is right. As Vatican News explained in its coverage of the letter, the invitation is to act from faith without resorting to contempt or oppression.
The letter’s authors also encourage young people to discern their choices through prayer and shared reflection in campus ministries, youth organizations and community groups. They affirm the right to participate in democratic life and express opinions, while inviting young Catholics to consider how they can best serve others.
The French Church’s appeal ultimately links the pursuit of justice with a concrete responsibility: transforming anxiety about the future into civic participation, meaningful relationships and a lasting commitment to peace.
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