Issued on: 14/04/2025 – 17:03

2 min

A powerful legal challenge has been launched against the leadership of France’s public health service, as families and healthcare workers seek justice following a troubling series of suicides linked to working conditions in hospitals.

19 plaintiffs – including grieving widows, widowers, and healthcare professionals – have filed a formal complaint with the French Court of Justice, targeting Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, Higher Education Minister Élisabeth Borne, and Minister Delegate for Health Yannick Neuder.

They accuse the ministers of “moral harassment and manslaughter” and include allegations of “intentional violence resulting in death and endangerment”.

Thier move, confirmed by lawyer Christelle Mazza and reported by France Inter radio and Le Monde newspaper this Monday, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing battle over the state of France’s public healthcare system.

On social media, the UNSA – CHU union representing health workers posted: “The deteriorating working conditions over many years and the fear-based management methods are at the root of these suicides. The silence cannot continue, and the state must take responsibility for the cause of these deaths”. 

 

‘Massive investment’ doesn’t address France’s health crisis, critics warn

 

Deterioration of working conditions

While Vautrin’s team has declined to comment for now and Borne has yet to respond, the gravity of the accusations is clear.

The complaint paints a harrowing picture of a health service under intense pressure, citing “deadly working conditions”, “totalitarian management” and “organised impunity” dating back to around 2012 – 2013.

According to Mazza, the situation worsened dramatically with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, accelerating the deterioration of working conditions across the country.

In her remarks, Mazza drew comparisons to the France Télécom scandal – a case where top executives were found guilty of institutional harassment following a string of employee suicides.

“If this were a private company, the managers would already be behind bars and the operation shut down,” she said.

The Court of Cassation – France’s highest court – has since ruled that any deliberate corporate policy that degrades working conditions with the intent or the effect of reducing staff numbers can constitute institutional harassment.

 

Hospitals warn France’s healthcare system is at breaking point

Unbearable schedules

The complaint highlights “unbearable schedules” and relentless pressure in medical units across various areas of expertise and regions of France.

It details methods of control designed to push staff to breaking point, including unlawful requisitioning, forced overtime, and threatening behaviour.

Tragically, lives have been lost in the process.

The case cites a hospital in Alsace where in September 2023, an occupational health nurse died by suicide in his office.

His farewell letters blamed a toxic combination of workplace harassment, impossible targets, and complete lack of support.

Elsewhere, two student nurses at a psychiatric institution also took their lives.

And in Paris, the AP-HP hospital group is now the subject of a separate complaint, again for institutional harassment.

Despite repeated warnings, the plaintiffs say little has been done to address the crisis. “Alerts raised individually or systemically have been ignored,” their compaint reads. “There’s been no political will to change course”.

Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, at age 88, world leaders expressed their condolences over the passing of the leader of the Catholic Church. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris rang out 88 times before a noon mass in Francis’s honor, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. A mass for Pope Francis will also be held Wednesday morning at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.

Read more Subscribers only Pope Francis has died

Italy

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, “A great man has left us.” “Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left us,” Meloni said in a statement.

United States

“Rest in Peace, Pope Francis,” the US presidency wrote on X, accompanied by photos of the pontiff meeting President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on separate occasions.

Vance said his “heart goes out” to Christians, a day after he met the pontiff at the Vatican. “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Catholic convert Vance wrote on X during a visit to India.

Read more Subscribers only JD Vance, the convert turned ideologue of ‘post-liberal’ Catholicism

Former US president Joe Biden paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying he was “unlike any who came before him” and hailing his record of fighting for peace and equity. “Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him,” Biden, a staunch Catholic, wrote on X alongside a picture of him and the Pope.

Argentina

Argentine President Javier Milei paid tribute to Pope Francis’s “goodness and wisdom” despite the pair’s “differences.”

“In spite of differences that today seem minor, to have known him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honor for me,” Milei posted on X. The Argentine pope’s delicate relationship with politics in his homeland was evidenced in his dealings with Milei, who before taking office in late 2023 accused him of political interference and called him an “imbecile” who “promotes communism.” Milei subsequently apologized and was received at the Vatican shortly after his election. Photos showed the fellow Argentines smiling and embracing.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron said the pope had always been “on the side of the most vulnerable and the most fragile” and that he had stood for “brotherly humankind.”

The bells at Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honor of Francis. The “88 rings for 88 years of life” were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral’s bells before a noon mass in Francis’s honor, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office. The Eiffel Tower’s illuminations will be switched off in his memory, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. City hall was planning to name a site in the French capital after Francis who, she said, had placed “ecology at the center of spiritual concerns” and had argued in favor of “welcoming refugees.”

Read more Subscribers only Pope Francis’s complex relationship with France

United Kingdom

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Pope Francis’s leadership was “courageous” and the pope “never lost hope of a better world.”

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“His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility,” Starmer said in a statement, with flags set to fly at half-mast on UK government buildings for a day in his honor.

King Charles III said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Francis, and that he had been “greatly moved” to visit him earlier this month with his wife, Queen Camilla. “Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,” said King Charles, who is also the head of the Church of England.

Germany

Germany’s incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed “great sorrow,” describing him as a man “guided by humility and faith.” The pope “will remain in our memories for his indefatigable commitment” to “the most vulnerable, for justice and for reconciliation,” he said.

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the late Pope Francis as a “defender” of “humanism and justice,” and praised his efforts to promote dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic churches. Putin praised “wise” Pope Francis as a “consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice,” in a letter to the Vatican published by the Kremlin, adding he had “actively promoted dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.”

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mourned the death of Pope Francis, saying the Catholic leader had “prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.”

“We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians,” Zelensky wrote on social media.

Palestine

Palestinian resident Mahmud Abbas paid tribute to Francis, calling him a friend of Palestinians, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. “Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Abbas said, adding that Francis “recognized the Palestinian state and authorized the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican.”

Israel

Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the deceased Pope Francis as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.” “He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect,” the president said in a post on X.

Egypt

The death of Pope Francis “is a profound loss for the entire world, as he was a voice of peace, love and compassion,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said.

Extending his condolences, Sisi said the late Catholic leader was an exceptional global figure who “worked tirelessly to promote tolerance and build bridges of dialogue (…) and was a champion of the Palestinian cause, defending legitimate rights and calling for an end to conflict.”

Egypt’s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s prestigious seat of learning, said that Pope Francis will be remembered for his championing of interfaith dialogue. Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, calling Francis “his brother,” said he had “strengthened relations with Al-Azhar and the Islamic world, through his visits to numerous Islamic and Arab countries, and through his views demonstrating fairness and humanity, particularly regarding the aggression on Gaza and combating abhorrent Islamophobia.”

The Philippines

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos joined the global outpouring of grief over the death of Pope Francis, calling him a man of “profound faith and humility.”

“Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and forgotten,” said Marcos, who leads Asia’s bastion of Catholicism. “It is a profoundly sad day,” he said on his Facebook page.

India

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply pained” by the death, saying that the pontiff had served the poor and offered hope to the suffering. “Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” the Hindu-nationalist leader said in a statement. “I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development.”

Dalai Lama

Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama praised Pope Francis, offering Buddhist prayers and writing to the papal envoy to “express his sadness” at his death. “Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others (…) consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life,” the Buddhist leader said in a statement from his base in exile in India. “The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can.”

Iran

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered his condolences over the death of Pope Francis and praised his condemnation of “genocide” by Israel in Gaza. “With sorrow, I offer my condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, the leader and spiritual guide of the world’s Catholics,” Pezeshkian said in a statement posted on his official website. The president of Muslim-majority Iran said the pontiff’s name and memory would remain “in the hearts of all awakened consciences and freedom-seekers” for his humanitarian stances, including the “condemnation of the genocide committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza.”

Le Monde with AP and AFP

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Le pape François est décédé à l’âge de 88 ans, a annoncé le Vatican. Sur la place Saint-Pierre, à Rome, où affluaient déjà de nombreux fidèles, Michel Kubler, prêtre français, exprime son émotion et rend hommage à un homme “qui a su guider l’Église” durant ses douze années de pontificat.

“What’s the Bible?” “How do you pray the rosary?” “How do you get closer to God?”

On TikTok, 19-year-old Valentina – AKA Jesusuperfan – has posted countless videos talking about Christianity. With 17,000 subscribers, she describes herself as a “Catholic on a mission”.

A practising Christian since 2021, she noticed that at that time there were very few videos on social media about religion. So she decided to “talk about Jesus to share my knowledge and help others”.

Her video on “the essentials of Lent”, posted on 22 February, was a big hit on the platform, with more than 900,000 views. The success of the video is in line with the momentum of the hashtag #TikTokChristian, which has more than 1.3 million videos on the Chinese-owned social media platform.

Unprecedented turnout

In recent weeks, the start of Lent – the 40-day period of preparation before Easter for Christians – has drawn notable new interest among young people in France, a phenomenon that is being partly credited to the influence of online videos.

In the parishes, attendance at the Ash Wednesday Mass, which marks the start of Lent, exceeded all expectations.

“Everyone was surprised. Some newspapers spoke of a tidal wave and it’s true. Everywhere in France there was a massive turnout, especially of young people who came to take part in this mass to start their Lenten journey,” observed Father Benoît Pouzin.

A priest for 20 years in the diocese of Valence, southeastern France, nowadays he’s a “Christian influencer” too, having started posting on social media two years ago. With a following of 155,000 on TikTok, his videos have amassed several million views.

French parliament to probe psychological effects of TikTok on children

According to a survey by the French Bishops’ Conference, the number of baptisms for teenagers (aged 11-17) is set to soar from 2,861 in 2023 to 5,100 in 2024, a sign of the growing pull of the Christian faith among the younger generation.

Among adults, 36 percent of baptisms in France involved 18 to 25-year-olds – an increase of 150 percent in five years.

“I think there’s a certain amount of emulation. Seeing young people on social networks taking an interest and democratising the expression of their faith makes people want to take an interest and, as a result, there are more conversions,” said Victor, 22, a born-again Catholic.

Father Benoît was inspired to begin posting by his discussions with young people. “I noticed that they had a lot of questions, and I try to answer them. You don’t arrive with a ready-made catechism. We take a question and try to answer it as simply as possible, in one minute.”

‘It scares them to go into a church’

For Ophélie, aged 24, who has been observing Lent for three years, these internet personalities are a valuable source of support. “People like Father Damien and Brother Paul-Adrien have helped me to better understand this Lenten period and how to live it,” she said.

And she is not alone. Young people are using social media to look for guidance on the practical aspects of the Christian faith, which can seem vague. When to fast? When to pray? There are lots of questions.

In their videos, these modern-day evangelisers explain, advise and offer support. Sister Albertine embarked down this path three years ago and now has 280,000 followers on Instagram.

“I was answering very concrete questions about a life that is a little unknown and opaque, in the sense that people don’t really know what the life of a nun is like,” she explained.

She finds herself answering questions from young people who find speaking to a nun online less intimidating than going to church in person. “A lot of them tell me that it scares them to go into a church, to talk to a priest. Social networking is the first step in making that journey easier.”

Pope Francis urges bishops to make Catholic Church ‘open to all’

Jean, aged 22, says he is delighted to see Catholicism “come out of the closet and reveal itself on social networks, when it has tended to hide for the last few decades”.

Aurélie, 29, who follows a number of Christian influencers, sees their use of social media to spread the word as a way of dusting off the image of religion. “These days, religion is much more popularised, made a little more contemporary, when there was generally this image of faith as a little outdated, very conservative, not open to the world.”

“It’s a way of adapting to our environment,” echoed Mathilde, 25, for whom it’s “important to follow people who uplift us”.

A mirror effect with Ramadan

But the success of these influencers does not entirely explain the renewed popularity of Lent in 2025. For Father Benoît, the coincidence of the dates with Ramadan (28 February to 30 March) this year has had an impact on the visibility of Lent (5 March to 17 April).

“Muslims are not afraid to say what they are going through. I think a lot of young Christians have said to themselves ‘well, we’re entering Lent too, it might be a good idea to say so and live it too’. It’s our turn not to be afraid to say who we are and what we believe in, while respecting each other.”

Dearth of mosques in France leaves Muslims short of space to pray

Sister Albertine agrees that what could have been perceived as a form of religious competition ultimately turned out to be “something positive”.

“I think it was more a moment of religious solidarity. I was able to break the fast with a lot of my Muslim friends. Sharing our experience of fasting and faith, discussing these issues, is very beautiful,” echoed Aurélie.

Lent in the digital age

Father Benoît says he is proud to be contributing to this renewal of faith, in an age when “many young people have not received a religious education. This renewed interest is an inner quest. Through prayer, they experience something profound, accompanied by a real sense of communion”.

In a world of constant change, with the accompanying anxiety and uncertainty, many are finding answers to the big questions in faith. But is this new age of online spirituality merely another social media fad? 

Jean is concerned that Lent is becoming a mere pretext for theatrics on the internet – given that content like “Lent makeup tutorials” is flourishing on TikTok.

But he remains confident, saying: “Religious figures are there to set a framework and remind us of the significance of Lent. The fight against the ostentatious dimension of Lent is becoming one of the objectives of these new influencers.”

Father Benoît says his mission is precisely to avoid that. “We have to give substance, depth… because the most important thing is not whether or not we wear makeup or fast, it’s really about changing our hearts.”

For Sister Albertine, the key is offering support – “being there to answer questions and ensuring that it’s not just a fleeting fad on the internet”.

This article was adapted from the original French version.

France has an endless supply of charming, historic villages, but the gold standard is the ‘Les plus beaux villages de France’ (the most beautiful villages of France). 

This designation is only awarded to some of France’s most idyllic villages, as long as they have a population of less than 2,000 and are making an effort to sustain their cultural and historical heritage. As of 2025, there were 180 villages listed.

READ MORE: Which parts of France have the most beautiful villages?

Here is our pick at The Local, with a little bit from each part of France.

Northern France

Gerberoy – Known as the “village de briques et de bois” (village of brick and wood), is located at the border of the historic Picardy region in the Oise département. It’s a close distance from Paris (less than two hours away), and it is famous for its mix of half-timbered cob and brick homes. 

The village also has a significant history, due to its strategic location during conflicts between England and France between the 11th and 15th centuries. Later on, it was a spot for the impressionist and post-impressionist painters to visit. If you are a fan of Henri le Sidaner, you might recognise the village in his work. 

In 2018, the Tour de France passed through the village of Gerberoy. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Beuvron-en-Auge – Located in the Calvados département, Beuvron-en-Age is exactly what you would imagine when you think of a typical Norman village, with most of the homes maintaining their timber framing facades.

The village is located along the “Cider Route”, which has plenty of cider producers and opportunities for tours and tastings. If you visit in the autumn, you might be able to catch the annual Cider Festival. Villagers press apples in the square and there is plenty of cider to taste.

A photo from 2001 showing the entrance of the Beuvron-en-Auge village, with a local gîte pictured. (Photo by MYCHELE DANIAU / AFP)

Southern France

Les baux de provence – Located in the Alpilles mountains in the Bouches-du-Rhône département in southern France, this village is perched on top of a rocky cliff, with the ruins of its castle overlooking the plains. 

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The name baux actually comes from the Provençal language, and it means ‘rocky spur’. For those who enjoy nature and hiking, there are plenty of paths to choose from nearby. More information on the village website.

A picture taken on October 2, 2013 shows a part of the village of Baux-de-Provence. (Photo by BERTRAND LANGLOIS / AFP)

Tourtour – Home to one of the world’s smallest film festivals (the “CourtsCourts”) – which screens its films under the stars in an open-air theatre – the Tourtour village is located in the hilly Var département. 

Called “le village dans le ciel de Provence” (the village in the sky of Provence), Tourtour overlooks the historic Luberon area.

A view of the home of French painter Bernard Buffer in Tourtour, in the Var, in 1999. (Photo by GERARD JULIEN / AFP)

Auvillar – Historically a port town on the Garonne river, Auvillar is located in the Tarn-et-Garonne département in the Occitanie region. It boasts several old, still-standing fortifications and churches, including its Église Saint-Pierre, which dates back to the 12th century.

The town is also located along one of the popular pilgrimage routes to the Santiago de Compostela. 

A view of the village of Auvillar, southwestern France. Photo taken in 2013. (Photo by PASCAL PAVANI / AFP)

Western France

Rochefort-en-Terre – Located a short drive away from the Medieval city of Vannes in the Morbihan in Brittany, Rochefort-en-Terre is an adorable village with a mix of architectural styles – from Gothic to Renaissance and half-timbered houses. It also has its own castle, which was almost destroyed at the end of the French Revolution.

The town was also once home to the American painter Alfred Klots.

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In the winter, the village hosts one of the most popular Christmas markets in southern Brittany. In the summer months, as it is inland and near a forest, there are several walking paths to explore.

Tourists walk in a street of Rochefort-en-Terre, western France, on August 12, 2019. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP)

Ars-en-Ré – Located on the western end of the popular island of Ile de Ré, Ars-en-Ré is well-known for its salt production. According to Les plus beaux villages de France, it still produces 2,000 tonnes of salt per year. 

Aside from visiting the salt marshes and the store houses, you can gander at the merchants’ residences as well as the iconic church bell tower at the église Saint-Étienne. 

Pedestrians walk past the harbour in Ars-en-Re, western France on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Olympia DE MAISMONT / AFP)

Eastern France

Yvoire – Called the “pearl of Lake Geneva”, Yvoire gives you a taste of Switzerland without leaving France.

Once a medieval fishing town, Yvoire is located on the shores of Lake Geneva in the Haute Savoie département. As a port, it has held an important trade role for hundreds of years. 

One tourist attraction is Yvoire’s ‘Jardin des Cinq Sens’ (Garden of five senses).

The French village of Yvoire on Lake Geneva, in 2013. (Photo by JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT / AFP)

Riquewihr – Located along the Alsace Wine Route, in the Haut-Rhin département, Riquewihr is not far from the Vosges mountains. 

The town has existed since the Middle Ages – perhaps even dating back to the Roman times – and it has been producing wine for centuries. Even outside of the popular Christmas market season, Riquewihr offers the typical Alsatian experience, with its colourful, half-timbered homes.

This aerial picture taken on November 3, 2023, shows vineyards surrounding the Alsatian village of Riquewihr. (Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP)

Central France

Sancerre – A hilltop town in the Cher département, about 45km from Bourges, Sancerre is best known for its world renowned wines. 

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The village is famous for the Crottin de Chavignol cheese, a small goat cheese that has been produced in the area since the 16th century.

The village of Sancerre in 2002 (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)