'Compulsory' day devoted to the Pope in Catholic schools sparks controversy

Just before Pope Leo XIV's arrival in France from September 25 to 28, Catholic schools held a compulsory day of activities focused on the pontiff and his teachings, sparking a debate over secularism in education. The General Secretariat for Catholic Education (Sgec), led by Guillaume Prévost, mandated that state-funded private schools replace regular lessons with Pope-centric activities on September 25.

Primary schools were encouraged to create paper doves or murals on peace, while secondary students could study Leo XIV's upcoming UNESCO speech or themes like the "civilisation of love." Activities revolving around peace, fraternity, artificial intelligence, bullying prevention, and violence reduction were also suggested. However, the Sgec stressed that the day did not imply any religious obligation, with explicitly religious activities like prayers remaining optional.

Critics argue that this day conflicts with secular education standards and the national curriculum. The Ministry of National Education maintains that schools under contract can dedicate time to specific themes, but freedom of conscience, prohibition of imposed spiritual practices, and the Sgec's non-hierarchical authority over schools were emphasized.