Arrived in the rain, the coffin of the Franco-British actor entered the church of Saint-Roch, the Parisian parish of artists "
for a century
", for a mass celebrated by Monsignor Dominique Rey, archbishop of Fréjus-Toulon and friend of the actor for 34 years.
His friends from the theater, cinema and those with whom he shared a Christian faith came to pay him a last tribute.
Among them: Jean-Pierre Léaud.
On the steps of the church, the fetish actor of the New Wave testified to his
"deep admiration"
for his friend.
"I am really happy to have attended such a beautiful ceremony,
" he told reporters.
Jean-Pierre Léaud CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
Macha Méril was also present among his film friends.
"We never quite left,"
said the actress who had shot with Michael Lonsdale in Gérard Oury's film,
La main chaud
(1960).
Macha Méril.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
A devout Catholic since his conversion, at 22, Michael Lonsdale received tributes to match his faith and his lifelong investment in the Catholic Church, during a mass lasting more than two hours accompanied by an orchestra.
All of them recalled the Franco-British artist's humility, righteousness, humor, empathy and devotion to God.
According to a relative, Michael Lonsdale had the ability to "
move from the velvet seats of Parisian theaters to the misery of the street, proclaiming the poetry of the greatest to the ears of migrants and detainees
".
His nephew, director Philippe Calderon, recalled that Michael Lonsdale
"had this admirable empathy, on Christmas Eve, to make visits to the elderly."
Michael Lonsdale was a member of the “Arts and Letters” section of the Catholic Academy of France and co-founded the Center Artistique Chrétien Magnificat intended to promote the encounter of art and faith.
Pope Francis himself bestowed his apostolic blessing on him in a letter dated September 17, but apparently received at his home after his death on September 29.
“
My ideal is to meet Christ,”
he said
.
The most expensive thing I have in my life is the love of Christ.
I would like to leave in peace.
I would like to die in God.
What founds my confidence in the face of death is Jesus
”.
His friends from the theater, cinema and those with whom he shared a Christian faith came to pay him a last tribute.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
After obtaining his Caesar Best Supporting Actor, for his portrayal of Brother Luc dan
's
Of Gods and Men
, in 2011, Michael Lonsdale defined the acting profession as "
a smuggler working
," explaining that "
strove to convey outward beauty by making the words of another heard
”.
His funeral will have recalled him for two hours.
Open to the public, the mass was also broadcast live on the KTO channel.
At the end of mass, a handful of admirers applauded the actor one last time, under a ray of sunshine.
