Verdun Mayor Bans Mass Honoring Controversial Marshal Philippe Pétain

The mayor of Verdun, Samuel Hazard, has prohibited a mass planned to honor Philippe Pétain, sparking controversy over the legacy of the World War I hero turned leader of the Vichy regime. Hazard justified his decision by condemning Pétain’s collaborationist past and stripped military rank, asserting he would "never accept that a mass is celebrated in Verdun in honor of Pétain," emphasizing that Verdun symbolizes universality while Pétain represents "the antithesis of humanity." The mass was to be held at the historically significant Saint Jean-Baptiste church, partially destroyed during World War I. The Association for the Defense of Marshal Pétain (ADMP) claimed to have obtained written permission from ecclesiastical authorities to conduct the ceremony and plans to challenge the mayor’s ban in administrative court. The ADMP, founded in 1951, has a history of organizing commemorations for Pétain, including a similar event in 2022 at the Douaumont Ossuary. This clash reflects broader tensions in France over attempts to revise Pétain’s legacy, with some public figures supporting rehabilitation efforts while historians strongly oppose revisionism. Mayor Hazard pointed to concerns about disturbing public order and voiced his disgust and anger over the event. The controversy resurfaces longstanding debates about memory and history around one of France’s most divisive figures.