Apostolic Nunciature to France


The Apostolic Nunciature to France is an ecclesiastical office of the Catholic Church in France. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of an ambassador.

History of the Nunciature

The early twentieth century was a very difficult time in France-Vatican relations because of tensions over Church-State separation and anticlericalism, which were condemned by Pius X, and which led to the freezing of relations.
However, relations were renewed after the First World War and had very much improved, after the Second World War, under the presidency of Charles de Gaulle. There was controversy over relations under the Vichy regime, because the regime rewarded the Church even though some bishops sometimes opposed antisemitism. During this period, the Holy See's diplomatic mission moved to Vichy, first establishing itself in the Hôtel des Ambassadeurs.
Relations with the Sarkozy government were relatively good, given the fact that the government has announced an end to the ban on recognition of higher Christian institutions.
On 30 September 2019, it was revealed that then nuncio Luigi Ventura, who has been under investigation for sex abuse, was no longer living in France and now resides in Rome, Italy. On 17 December 2019, Pope Francis accepted Ventura's resignation, which he submitted upon turning 75 on 9 December. On 11 January 2020, Pope Francis appointed recent Russian nuncio Celestino Migliore nuncio to France.

Apostolic Nuncios to France

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century