Dispute over Cardinal Sarah on the cover of Paris Match

Head of department leaves "Paris Match"

The French magazine "Paris Match" usually puts celebrities on its cover. In July, a conservative publisher insisted that Cardinal Sarah be on the cover. Now a department head has left "Paris Match" in protestant.

When it comes to opposition to Pope Francis, the name of African Curia Cardinal Robert Sarah often comes up. The man is 77 years old, comes from Guinea and was prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments until 2021. 

Pro compulsory celibacy

Most recently, Cardinal Sarah has been in the news for his Corona conspiracy theories and his adherence to compulsory celibacy. But the Cardinal also likes to rant and rave against Pope Francis.

In July, he even made the cover of the French magazine "Paris Match", which surprised many. After all, the people magazine is not usually so interested in Catholic right-wing figures.

Bruno Jeudy leaves "Paris Match" in protest

As has become known in the meantime, the cover picture is due to internal pressure from the publishing house. In protest, Bruno Jeudy, the department head for politics and economics, is now leaving the paper. "By mutual agreement, it was decided to end our collaboration," reads a letter obtained by "Nouvelobs".

As French media reported, the editorial staff had opposed putting Cardinal Sarah on the cover - among other things on the grounds that the cardinal was not a well-known personality in France.

Conservative Catholic Vincent Bolloré

However, the publisher's management overrode the opinion of the editorial board and pushed the cardinal through. The Society of Journalists (SDJ) protested against the instruction and spoke of "interference" by the Lagardère group. 

This refers mainly to Vincent Bolloré (70) - he is considered the mastermind behind the Cardinal Sarah issue. Vincent Bolloré heads the Vivendi group, to which the Lagardère group belongs, within which "Paris Match" is published. Critics accuse Vincent Bolloré, a Catholic, of journalistically promoting his conservative convictions.

CEO with a sense of mission

Observers see the "Paris Match" issue as further evidence of Vincent Bolloré's Catholic sense of mission. Since 2021, his television channels have been broadcasting religious programmes and Masses via livestream.

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