Originally published at National Catholic Register
Father Juan Miguel Ferrer Grenesche, a Spanish priest and an expert in liturgy and popular piety, explained in anticipation of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Corsica on his 47th apostolic journey that the pontiff “has highly valued popular piety” throughout his life.
Popular piety, in this sense, means the piety characteristic of a people, often manifested in public expressions of faith.
On Dec. 15, the Pope will visit the city of Ajaccio, the capital of the French island, to close a conference on popular religiosity in the Mediterranean in which Father Ferrer will participate, speaking about processions and popular faith in Spain.
In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Father Ferrer explained how he believes the Pope will approach his participation in this conference, since “in Latin America he has greatly valued popular piety,” especially with his participation in the meetings of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops’ Council (CELAM, by its Spanish acronym).
After the Second Vatican Council, the priest explained, the Latin American bishops decided at a conference held in Medellín, Colombia, in 1968 to distance themselves in some way from popular religiosity, considering that it was “too contaminated by pagan elements, superstitions, witchcraft, and
