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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

5,000 liturgical stoles woven in the Loire for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Four companies in France’s Loire region are producing 5,000 jacquard liturgical stoles for clergy attending Pope Leo XIV’s three Masses in Paris, Lourdes and Metz.
  • The cream-colored stoles feature raised blue crosses, and local businesses and volunteers are covering the operation’s costs.
  • Workers aim to complete production this week, with local parishioners handling final ironing before shipment.

Four companies in the Loire region have joined forces to produce 5,000 liturgical stoles for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France. The cream-colored jacquard garments, each decorated with a raised blue cross, will be worn by clergy surrounding the pope at Masses in Paris, Lourdes and Metz from Sept. 25 to 28.

We responded to a request from the French Bishops’ Conference to make these 5,000 stoles within a short timeframe.

— Antoine Saint-PierreThe president of Les Tissages de Charlieu explained how the regional companies took on the order.

The order came from the French Bishops’ Conference and required the companies to work to a tight deadline. Antoine Saint-Pierre, president of Les Tissages de Charlieu, said the project called for the rapid production of all 5,000 pieces. The company, founded in 1902, employs about 100 people.

The operation also showcases the region’s textile expertise, particularly three-dimensional Jacquard weaving without printing. Véronique Mouiller, director of the social-integration company Le Tri d’Emma in Villerest, said its workshop employees spent the whole of August cutting and sewing fabric supplied by Les Tissages de Charlieu.

This collective mobilization is an opportunity to show our expertise in three-dimensional Jacquard weaving without printing.

— Antoine Saint-PierreHe described the project as a demonstration of local textile know-how.

The work is being financed by companies in the Roanne area, a textile center with roots dating to the Middle Ages, as well as volunteers. About 50 local parishioners are ironing the stoles at home. The finished garments will be packed in boxes of 50, donated by Les Cartonnages du Roannais, before Transports Cognard sends them to their destinations.

We will meet the deadline, which means finishing production of the 5,000 pieces this week.

— Véronique MouillerThe director of Le Tri d’Emma discussed the production schedule.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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