Earlier version, Tuesday 20 October
Conférence des évêques de France reacts to violence on October 17, 2026
Bishops
First source report
The presidency of the Conference of Bishops of France issued a statement on October 19, 2026, responding to violence and riots that occurred across the country on October 17.
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the conference and archbishop of Marseille, along with vice-presidents Vincent Jordy, archbishop of Tours, and Benoît Bertrand, bishop of Pontoise, expressed solidarity with those injured and with shopkeepers affected by vandalism. The statement noted that alongside authorized demonstrations, serious disturbances took place involving attacks on law enforcement, the looting of shops, the degradation of public equipment, and the destruction of state institution buildings.
The presidency condemned the violence and called on the faithful to pray for peace and dialogue. The bishops requested that legitimate grievances be heard and addressed through justice and dialogue to restore peace.
AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.Diocese of Belfort–Montbéliard · Anne-Françoise de Beaudrap
Archdiocese of Bordeaux · jeanbredon
Diocese of Mende · AD Mende Communication
Diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux · abarbe
Diocese of Saint-Denis · Flavien Makanga
Diocese of Nîmes · Diocese De Nîmes
Diocese of Nantes · Isabelle Nagard
Earlier version, Tuesday 20 October
Conférence des évêques de France reacts to violence on October 17, 2026
Earlier version, Tuesday 20 October
Bishops of France call for dialogue and peace
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