THE Pope ended his four day visit to, France by urging 200,000 French Catholic's assembled at a Reims air base to be like their country's earliest Christians - "to be the light that enlightens others".
At the same time, he appeared, to go out of his way to defuse the bitter debate in French society over the role of the Catholic Church sparked off by his presence in Reims to celebrate the baptism of France's first Christian ruler, Clovis.
In a clear gesture to the French republican traditions of human rights and freedom of speech he told the French bishops that "in a society that has made a great contribution to the recognition of human liberty and the rights of each person, it goes without saying that to express one's convictions does not mean to impose them but to exercise an inalienable right".
He called for "a serene and respectful dialogue". He said "the Christian conception of respect for life and the dignity of the person" had been developed by "experience and profound reflection from generation to generation in the light of faith".
He continued: "We have no other intention than to serve all humanity in a spirit of universal communion as the Second Vatican Council so strongly declared."
In his homily at Reims air base the Pope concentrated on the third theme of his trip - the need for a new evangelisation of Europe. This complemented his homilies in the Vendee and Brittany on young people and family life, and in Tours on the need for the church to be in solidarity with the most deprived, the people he calls "life's wounded".
He said it was precisely because French Catholics had behind them "so many centuries of Christianity" that they were "called to act in a manner worthy of your Christian vocation".
"In a sense, Christians of our time have the same vocation as the first generation of Christians of your country, and at the same time vocation is determined by the present stage of history. The church is always a church of the present time. She does not see her heritage as the treasure of the past, but as a powerful inspiration to go forward in the pilgrimage of faith by paths ever new.
He said that with the church approaching its third millennium, it was necessary for people to "decipher" their Christian vocation "in function of our time, in light of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council on the church".
He also made an ecumenical gesture, urging the Blessed Virgin to help French Catholics "to stand up to the difficulties of this era in loyal collaboration with their countrymen who belong to other religious traditions or other spiritual families".
Among the 20 or so European cardinals on the podium during the Mass was Cardinal Daly.
The Pope's final day in Reims was something of a triumph, and he was in strong voice and excellent form at his various engagements in the city. The satisfaction of the French church leaders who spoke to the media was obvious. It was only increased by the news that fewer than 3,000 people had attended a demonstration in Paris yesterday organised by the anti clerical coalition opposed to the visit.
On Saturday, the Pope finished his day in Tours by talking with and blessing a group of several hundred unemployed people, immigrants, homeless people, prostitutes, mentally and physically handicapped people and those suffering from serious diseases, including AIDS.
As to his health, the situation was summed up by the Archbishop of Tours, Monsignor Jean Honored. He compared the Pope now with 1979, when he had accompanied him to Ireland. "Then he was jovial, ever present, and a long day tired us more than him. Now he has suffered some wear and tear on his health, which makes his presence and availability more precarious. But he has a tremendous firmness of character."
AFP reports:
France's chief rabbi, Dr Joseph Sitruk, said yesterday Jews had played a key role in building France. "Jews have been here since Gallo Roman times," he said, explaining why he was invited to attend the Pope's Mass celebrating the baptism of King Clovis.
He said: "It is appropriate to recall . . . that we helped build this country just as much as anyone else."