Its Maghreb Origin, its role in a city-fire like Marseille and its pastoral affinity could be decisive factors if the conclave seeks continuity without stiffness.
Born in Algeria in 1958 and transferred to Marseille during his childhood, the cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline It represents a bridge between cultures, religions and continents. His life has been marked by dialogue, both in theological and human, and his name pica on tip in the conclave as one of Pope Francis’s possible successors.
Ordered priest in 1984, he developed an intense pastoral and academic activity in the city of southern France, where he founded the Institute of Science and Theology of Religions (ISTR)an institution dedicated to study of Islam and understanding between creeds. His sensitivity to minorities and his commitment to migrants made him an influential figure within French Catholicism.
The Catholic Church in France faces several challenges, mainly related to sexual abuse scandals that have affected public trust and institutional morality, in addition to the growing secularization of the country that has generated tensions, with a decrease in the participation of the faithful in the sacraments and a distancing from ecclesiastical teachings. These crises have complicated the relationship of the Church with French society, forcing her to deal with her role in an increasingly secular nation.
In this context of religious tensions and social challenges, Aveline assumed an outstanding role as a figure of dialogue and mediation. As archbishop of Marseille -a city marked by cultural and religious diversity, with an important Muslim presence-,, The cardinal actively promotes interreligious understanding, particularly with Islam. His experience in theology and his career as a defender of peaceful coexistence have positioned him as a reference within the Church to address these conflicts.
His role has been key to fostering a pastoral approach that not only seeks to preserve Christian identity, but also tend bridges with other religious communities, In a country where tensions between secularism, Islam and Catholicism remain a critical point of public debate.
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His link with Pope Francis
Francisco appointed him Cardinal in 2022, in a gesture that was interpreted as a sign of appreciation for his commitment to the central values of the pontificate: a synodal, missionary and departure church. Since then, Aveline became a figure close to the Pope, actively participating in the synods and key debates about the renewal of the Church. Your pastoral approach and your humble profile They aligned with the Franciscan vision of a papacy near the margins and open to the world.
His appointment not only raised his international profile, but reinforced his influence as a representative of a European Church not closed in itself, but open to the complexity of the present. In Marseille, he stood out for his defense of an interreligious coexistence that is not only institutional, but deeply human, marked by respect and daily cooperation. Their public speeches do not usually avoid uncomfortable issues: He talked about migrations, urban poverty and the challenges of secularization.
Looking ahead to the conclave that is being carried out, Aveline appears as a figure capable of building bridges between progressive and moderate sectors within the Cardinal College. Although it is not the most mentioned in traditional bets, its figure gains weight as a possible consensus candidate: close to Francisco’s thought, with experience in the interreligious dialogue and with a clear vision of the challenges facing the global church.
Source: Ambito
