Around the table in the Green lounge at the Elysée Palace, on Monday morning, there was talk of "resilience", this ability to overcome the most serious crises, and of "refounding" the world after in the face of the profound transformations that the pandemic will generate. There was also talk of death, which was brutally killed with the coronavirus. Installed in front of a screen to dialogue by videoconference with the religious and moral authorities of the country, Emmanuel Macron discussed with them the very sensitive issue of mourning in times of epidemic.
"The subject was raised about how we support the French and their families through death and disarray," said a participant, including the Chief Rabbi of France Haïm Korsia, the president of the Protestant federation of France François Clavairoly, that of the Conference of Bishops of France Mgr Eric de Moulins-Beaufort or CFCM Mohammed Moussaoui.
A toll-free number will soon be set up to “spiritually” support families confronted with Covid-19 and, in the worst cases, to organize funerals, strictly supervised in the face of the risk of contamination. "There will be priests, rabbis and imams on the phone," says a religious dignitary.
April religious holidays cannot be a gathering place
The opportunity for some to worry before Macron of the rumors that abound on social networks and worry their communities. Thus, the CFCM boss alerted him to a "fake news" according to which all deceased people, even Muslims, would be cremated. "This is of course false," showered a representative of religions. Mohammed Moussaoui also underlined that the Muslim squares of cemeteries could quickly run out of space, because it is no longer possible to bury the faithful who wanted it in their country of origin.
The president warned them: April religious holidays, whether Jewish and Christian Passover as Ramadan (April 6 to 12 respectively, with Easter Monday April 13; April 9 to 6 ; and around April 24), will not be able to give place to gathering. A hollow indicator of the probable duration of this quarantine. “Make Passover (Editor's note: Jewish Passover) by videoconference? I hope not, but if we are still in confinement at that time, we will adapt. We will do it according to the rules of the Republic, ”agrees Chief Rabbi Haïm Korsia.
The beginning of a social shift?
There was also talk of solidarity, as the government extended the winter break by two months. "We can no longer have people like that who are outside of society, we will have to deal with this", promised Macron, who had already committed on December 31, 2017 to "provide a roof to all those who are homeless ”. This Monday afternoon, he went to an old hotel in Paris, requisitioned to accommodate homeless people during the crisis. "We will continue this effort," he promised. The beginning of a social shift? One of his relatives is convinced: "It will take, in the new context to come, a signal on the left".
In addition to his Scientific Council, the president intends to bring together these religious and secular authorities once a week. "It's a circle of reflection and solutions," explains one of his advisers. He wants to think with them about the aftermath of the Covid-19 epidemic, which are tapping him. "The day after will be very different from the day before, we have to think about it now," he told them. Chief Rabbi Haïm Korsia concludes, philosopher: “To pass an ordeal without gaining experience is to be a victim of events. "
