I am finding today a strange day to try to live well to be doing much of anything on the day of the Lord’s Passion no matter what I am doing — however necessary or worthy — it has the feeling of being trivial and unequal to the day which I suppose at some level I feel I ought to be spending in quiet prayer and reflection Here at The Pillar we make the best effort we can to keep the Triduum We operate a night-watchman rotation in the newsroom for the weekend and through Monday so that we can focus on the things that really matter this season but sometimes we have to — especially when our beat is the life of the Church it’s too easy to find ourselves on the outside of the faith looking in But part of the struggle for me to enter Good Friday well is not to take myself out of daily life completely despite the natural religious impulse to do so When later today I head over to church to venerate the cross it takes a real act of the will to recall that it is the cross in my own life I am supposed to be venerating recognizing that the sufferings in my life have dignity and meaning and import for my own salvation listening to John’s account of the farewell discourse I was struck by the dichotomy the Lord presents: hate for each other and by necessary extension for the Lord and the Father which he sends to make real his promise that we can love one another as he has loved us that his joy may be in us and our joy may be complete While I spend plenty of time thinking about the petty and serious crosses in my life I am called to take up and the people I am called to serve as Christ came to serve I slip too easily into a Pelegian desire to will myself on to some kind of moral victory I cheapen what Christ offers — grace in super abundance — and miss the real promise of Easter Share Catholic dioceses across the world are reporting that record numbers of adults are seeking baptism at this year’s Easter Vigil saying about their journeys to the Catholic Church Luke Coppen took a look at what is happening, country-by-country What does the Church expect of us in Holy Week To take part in the great services of the Easter Triduum But what about the times in between liturgies across these three days One possible answer is the rosary: the ancient and ingenious Marian prayer using 59 stringed beads you meditate on events in the life of Christ including those commemorated in the Holy Triduum How can the rosary lead us deeper into the events of Holy Week? The Pillar asked Bishop Erik Varden, a spiritual writer, Trappist monk, and Prelate of Trondheim in Norway. This is what you want to read, trust me. Bishop William Shomali of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem will be in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the bishop noted in an interview with The Pillar this week it is going to be unusually crowded this year since both Catholics and Orthodox Christians will be marking the feast on the same date That creates some unusual logistic challenges but this chaos is well organized,” he told us Read the whole conversation here. When civil war broke out in Sudan two years ago today there were more than 1.2 million Catholics in the country — heirs to a rich and long tradition it’s hard to build a comprehensive picture because of the fog of war but they give some insight into the conflict’s impact on the country’s Catholic minority But here’s what we know, and there is a lot here for us to pray about. An Armenian Orthodox bishop has said that Azerbaijan’s funding of Vatican projects is influencing the Holy See’s approach to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan Orthodox Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, ecumenical director of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, told The Pillar this week that he believes financial ties to the Azeri government have influenced Vatican diplomacy. “There’s a lot of people and a lot of media articles asking why the Vatican is forgetting their friends in Armenia and it is because there are cardinals and Vatican officials in touch with Azerbaijan and getting money from them,” Aykazian said The bishop’s remarks came amid public pushback over a conference on Christianity in Azerbaijan held at the Gregorian University this month which Armenian activists and church officials say is part of an Azeri effort to erase Armenian history Read the whole story here. One of the big topics of conversation just about anywhere you look these past few weeks has been about Adolescence probably the best art historian working in and around the Vatican And it put her in mind of the life and works of Caravaggio and one of the most powerful artists of his age As unexpected high-art/low-art parallels to be drawn go using a Netflix series to walk through the development of the most famous painters of all time has to be right up there is that it doesn’t just make you smarter for having read it Read it here. A Milwaukee priest was sentenced this month to two years probation after he pled guilty to several counts of theft from his parish over a four-year period Mauricio Fernandez-Boscan pleaded guilty to stealing more than $33,000 from Milwaukee’s St But while the current parish pastor claims that Fernandez-Boscan actually embezzled more than $160,000 from its accounts Fernandez-Boscan saw support from other priests in the Milwaukee archdiocese amid his conviction eight fellow priests sent letters to the judge who sentenced Fernandez-Boscan — an unusually high number of interventions for a priest convicted of stealing from his parish Read all about it here. Things seem to draw toward some great consummation That’s how Stephen White started his column this week we know what the great consummation of creation is our knowing the answer only ups the need to diagnose the increasingly urgent questions our world is unravelling itself over in these days of fear and trembling This is some solid Triduum reading here. Messages exchanged between witnesses in the Vatican financial crimes trial appear to show collusion between them as they prepared to give evidence As I wrote in an analysis this week sent between some of the most high-profile people to give evidence at the trial appear to point to more than just unseemly cooperation between themselves and suggest consistent cooperation between witnesses and the Vatican City Office of the Promoter of Justice Even more concerning for the Vatican is the possibility of possible perjury by some witnesses in the trial — and that the prosecution may have been aware of it as it occurred Read all about what happened and what it means right here. I read the story of the text messages between les femmes Chaouqui and Ciferri with great attention The incredibly porous nature of the Holy See’s departments remains a source of wonderment to me Even though I am not unused to benefitting from curial indiscretion myself which lay plain that someone in the Office of the Promoter of Justice was systematically leaking details of an investigation to a woman who is herself a convicted criminal in Vatican City (for the crime of leaking confidential information given that the chief prosecutor Alessandro Diddi alleged in the messages by Ciferri to be the leak has himself been known to attempt to prosecute journalists for reporting the news The Vatican government's penchant for shenanigans has now hit critical mass There’s now a real existential risk to the Holy See to be doing much of anything on the day of the Lord\u2019s Passion no matter what I am doing \u2014 however necessary or worthy \u2014 it has the feeling of being trivial and unequal to the day but sometimes we have to \u2014 especially when our beat is the life of the Church it\u2019s too easy to find ourselves on the outside of the faith looking in listening to John\u2019s account of the farewell discourse I cheapen what Christ offers \u2014 grace in super abundance \u2014 and miss the real promise of Easter Share Catholic dioceses across the world are reporting that record numbers of adults are seeking baptism at this year\u2019s Easter Vigil Luke Coppen took a look at what is happening, country-by-country How can the rosary lead us deeper into the events of Holy Week? The Pillar asked Bishop Erik Varden, a spiritual writer, Trappist monk, and Prelate of Trondheim in Norway. This is what you want to read, trust me. but this chaos is well organized,\u201D he told us Read the whole conversation here. there were more than 1.2 million Catholics in the country \u2014 heirs to a rich and long tradition it\u2019s hard to build a comprehensive picture because of the fog of war but they give some insight into the conflict\u2019s impact on the country\u2019s Catholic minority But here\u2019s what we know, and there is a lot here for us to pray about. An Armenian Orthodox bishop has said that Azerbaijan\u2019s funding of Vatican projects is influencing the Holy See\u2019s approach to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan \u201CThere\u2019s a lot of people and a lot of media articles asking why the Vatican is forgetting their friends in Armenia and getting money from them,\u201D Aykazian said The bishop\u2019s remarks came amid public pushback over a conference on Christianity in Azerbaijan held at the Gregorian University this month Read the whole story here. Subscribe now is that it doesn\u2019t just make you smarter for having read it Read it here. Mauricio Fernandez-Boscan pleaded guilty to stealing more than $33,000 from Milwaukee\u2019s St eight fellow priests sent letters to the judge who sentenced Fernandez-Boscan \u2014 an unusually high number of interventions for a priest convicted of stealing from his parish Read all about it here. That\u2019s how Stephen White started his column this week This is some solid Triduum reading here. As I wrote in an analysis this week Even more concerning for the Vatican is the possibility of possible perjury by some witnesses in the trial \u2014 and that the prosecution may have been aware of it as it occurred Read all about what happened and what it means right here. The incredibly porous nature of the Holy See\u2019s departments remains a source of wonderment to me There\u2019s now a real existential risk to the Holy See Few events on the world stage create more attention than a papal election are riveted by the news as they watch the church transition from one Vicar of Christ to another Everyone waits anxiously for the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel that indicates a new pope has been chosen and it is proclaimed,”Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”) Papal history is filled with interesting times and situations — for example many of the first popes were martyred; there have been assassination attempts; one pope was kidnapped; five popes considered themselves prisoners in the Vatican; there was a time when there were three popes; for 70 years the address of the bishop of Rome was Avignon was in the 13th century when there was a nearly three-year period when no pope was elected; for more than 1,000 days The chaos associated with this dilemma led to the development of the way we elect popes today — that is were elected by the clergy and acclaimed by the people This was the same process that was used in the election of all bishops; the clergy acted as electors other local bishops were the overseers of the election and the laity acknowledged the one elected with their approval or disapproval Most aggravating was the lack of an organized election procedure the emperors and the aristocracy of Rome were inserting themselves into the papal election often favoring one candidate over another and the emperor insisted on confirming each person elected as the pope Almost every head of state wanted to have control of the papacy because all their subjects looked to the church as the center of their life If indeed a monarch was instrumental in getting his choice for pope elected that king or queen would have tremendous influence over the populace The papacy was rich in material goods and possessed enormous amounts of land, both of which were in demand by the monarchy. In the 11th century, Pope Nicholas II (r. 1059-61) issued instructions in a papal bull, “In Nomine Domini,” that ended interference by an emperor or the aristocracy in a papal election Nicholas gave the role of electing the pope to the cardinals The cardinals were responsible for electing the pope and then the clergy and laity would approve the selection So, the extensive role of the cardinals in today’s papal elections and in the church can be traced to the 11th century and Pope Nicholas II. The Second Lateran Council in 1139 eliminated the requirement for all the clergy and the laity to approve the election When Pope Clement IV (r the cardinals were summoned to elect a successor The situation that confronted and divided the cardinals was the role of France in the affairs of Italy The electors were not necessarily unreasonable or stiff-necked people Four of the electors would go on to become popes These cardinals knew well the importance of what they were tasked to do in the life of the church but they would not compromise on the issue of France having increasing influence in papal and Italian policies there were seven French cardinals supporting such influence and seven non-French cardinals who strongly opposed it They were at a stalemate almost from the beginning The slowness of the process had an impact on the entire church and especially on the citizens of Viterbo and at the time of his election was in Palestine as part of the ninth crusade led by King Louis IX of France then consecrated a bishop and crowned as pope on March 27 of that same year The election of Gregory X (r. 1271-76) was a victory of sorts for the French cardinals because the new pope had previously served the church in France and, when elected pope, was assisting Louis IX. Less than a month into his papacy and aware of the need for certain papal reforms, Gregory called for an ecumenical church council to be held in Lyon in 1274. This council would become known as the Second Council of Lyon High on Pope Gregory’s list of issues was the establishment of procedures for conducting a papal election he issued a document titled “Ubi Periculum.” Some of the key features of this constitution to be used after the death of a pope included: the election of a new pope would begin within 10 days in the city where the pontiff died; the cardinals would gather in the palace of the pope be housed in one common room with no partitions locked in so there were no communications between the cardinals and the outside world; if there was not an election within three days the cardinals would receive only one dish for each of their meals and after five days receive only bread and water While “Ubi Periculum” set the foundation for future conclaves, the procedures were not always used when electing a pope. The ruling pontiff could simply rescind or suspend the decree and go in a different direction. Pope John XXI (r. 1276-77) rescinded the decree, and the upshot was that when Pope Nicholas IV died in 1292 it was two years before a new pope was elected partly because there was no clear-cut election process but Morrone was a monk and was elected as the pope he reinstated “Ubi periculum” in 1294 the cardinals were simply advisers to the pope but over the centuries they have become heads of the different Vatican curia departments and many hold the position of archbishop in dioceses around the world a primary responsibility of the cardinals is to elect the pope “fifteen full days must elapse before the conclave begins in order to await those (cardinals) who are absent; nevertheless the College of Cardinals is granted the faculty to move forward the start of the conclave if it is clear that all the cardinal electors are present; they can also defer the beginning of the election for a few days more But when a maximum of twenty days have elapsed from the beginning of the vacancy of the see all the cardinal electors present are obligated to proceed to the election” (motu proprio “Normas Nonnullas”) This action of Pope Benedict XVI (r 2005-13) amends previous instructions provided by Pope St who did not offer the latitude of moving the conclave start date forward the officials holding key Vatican or curia positions This is done because these individuals have been carrying out the duties as directed by the pope but since that individual is no longer in office The new pope will decide on leaders of the key Vatican offices Routine matters regarding the running of the church will be left to the College of Cardinals Critical issues and decisions will be delayed until a new pope is in office is the cardinal known as the “camerlengo,” or chamberlain The camerlengo is among the two Vatican officials who are not obligated to vacate their office when a pope dies or resigns (the other is the major penitentiary) One of the camerlengo’s primary duties is to officially verify he carried out this verification by tapping the deceased pope’s forehead with a small mallet and calling out the pope’s baptismal name Today the act of determining that the pope is dead is done by a medical person and the camerlengo advises the cardinal vicar of Rome The camerlengo breaks the fisherman’s ring of the deceased pope which is an indication of the end of papal authority and ensures that the seal of the ring is not somehow used for fraudulent activities meets daily before the election to discuss a variety of subjects and issues regarding the church These meetings are known as either a general congregation or a particular congregation and are held during a vacancy of the Holy See A general congregation consists of all the cardinals who deal with significant issues of the church the cardinals “swear an oath to observe the prescriptions contained herein and to maintain secrecy” (No The particular congregation is made up of the camerlengo and three cardinal assistants The particular congregation focuses on routine matters regarding the running of the Vatican and routine universal church issues While no campaigning is to be done in these congregations that is not to say that in private meetings the cardinals do not discuss the election but only those who have not reached the age of 80 at the time of the pope’s death can vote in the papal election The congregations may be the first time that some cardinals have met one another The conclave begins with the cardinals attending the Mass For the Election of the Roman Pontiff the cardinals process as a group to the Sistine Chapel singing the “Veni Sancte Spiritus.” Here the cardinals take an oath to keep secret everything that takes place in the conclave we promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman pontiff and regarding what occurs in the place of the election directly or indirectly related to the results of the voting; we promise and swear not to break this secret in any way either during or after the election of the new pontiff unless explicit authorization is granted by the same pontiff; and never to lend support or favor to any interference opposition or any other form of intervention whereby secular authorities of whatever order and degree or any group of people or individuals might wish to intervene in the election of the Roman pontiff” (No pledge and swear.” Each cardinal places his hand on the Gospels “So help me God and these holy Gospels which I touch with my hand.” the cardinals are not allowed to leave except for illness or other grave reasons The cardinal electors will have no communication with the outside world during the conclave: no radio The facilities used by the cardinals will be swept for listening devices and electronic jammers to deny any communications from being broadcast to or from the places the cardinals occupy The objective is to ensure the electors are protected from any outside influence The people who will support the cardinals in the conclave — cooks anyone — also take an oath of secrecy This group includes “the Secretary of the College of Cardinals … the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations with two Masters of Ceremonies and two Religious attached to the Papal Sacristy; and an ecclesiastic chosen by the Cardinal Dean” (No The secrecy of the voting process in the Sistine Chapel is the camerlengo’s responsibility The time of sequestering the cardinals in one room with no privacy is a thing of the past the cardinals live in a modern lodging facility with comfortable rooms There is no discomfort in the same sense as that of conclaves of the past such as which was built in 1996 to provide accommodations during the conclave and to house visitors to the Holy See Each room or suite has been described as simply furnished with a bed Distancing the cardinals from any outside influence during their daily journey from their place of lodging to the Sistine Chapel where they vote is carefully observed The rules for the conclave, including procedures for voting, are prescribed in Pope St. John Paul II’s 1996 apostolic constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis“ and a two-thirds majority is required for an election “Should it be impossible to divide the number of cardinals present into three equal parts for validity of the election of the Supreme Pontiff then one additional vote is required” (No Voting takes place twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon The size and form of the ballot used is carefully defined as well as how the ballot will be filled out Each cardinal elector secretly writes the name of the person he chooses on the ballot no one else is in the room except the cardinals counted and verified in a very prescribed manner during the two votes in the morning and afternoon nine cardinals are selected to count and verify the vote The ballots are counted after each vote — if no one receives a two-thirds majority The voting results are documented by the cardinal camerlengo or his assistants After each of the two votes in the morning and afternoon the ballots are burned in a stove installed in the Sistine Chapel indicating whether or not a new pope has been elected If three days of voting pass without a new pope being selected The vote is then resumed as before with no more than seven ballots cast there is another pause followed by seven more ballots another pause is taken and then seven more ballots Each pause includes prayer and discussions the cardinals will discuss how to proceed so that they can accomplish their task The guidance in “Universi Dominici Gregis” reads there can be no waiving of the requirement that a valid election takes place only by an absolute majority of the votes or else by voting on the two names which in the ballot immediately preceding have received the greatest number of votes also in this second case only an absolute majority is required” (No no conclave has lasted more than four days By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy While Louis Vuitton already confirmed that its Cruise 2026 show would return to its birthplace in France, the exact city and location hadn’t been unveiled until this week. On May 2022, UNESCO World Heritage Site Palais des Papes in Avignon, France, will host the French Maison’s latest collection designed by Louis Vuitton women’s director Nicolas Ghesquière Along with hosting the show at the Palais, according to WWD Louis Vuitton will also fund a long-term project to illuminate the facades of the buildings facing the city’s main squares the Hôtel des Monnaies and the Hotel Calvet de la Palun Every product is independently selected by editors Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission Claude-Noëlle Toly noticed an ad for a third-floor walk-up in the ­window of a real-estate office in Greenwich Village The 275-square-foot studio had beat-up wooden floors and small windows and what passed for a fireplace was a hole in the wall Such a place used to be called a “handyman special.” No glamour; just nuts and bolts it overlooked a patch of green that reminded her of the village where she grew up in the south of France was a ceiling beam straight out of a French farm It is the only apartment in the building that has an exposed beam Nobody has ever been able to tell me why that is I saw it as a true hint that this apartment was meant for me.” In time, her postage stamp on Bleecker Street came to resemble her own little ­Avignon. Toly — who sells antique Provençal furniture and pottery at Le Fanion the shop on the corner of West 4th and Bank Streets that she co-owns with business partner ­William Nuckel — replaced the windows and installed a new balcony and terra-cotta floors Toly first visited New York in 1981 while hitchhiking cross-country with her then-­boyfriend “It was the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life,” she tells me where she had earned a master’s in political science but later came back to New York and worked as a waitress at Chez Brigitte a long-forgotten French diner on Greenwich Avenue and they decided to start an importing business together which led to the opening of Le Fanion in 1987 inside a former grocery store adding wood beams and a navy-and-white checkered floor Toly was renting “a really funky apartment on Avenue A,” and it was Nuckel who ­suggested she buy the studio on Bleecker “It was probably the best advice I ever ­received,” she says By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Please email comments to [email protected] pleasing us arty types who’d carePetrarch recorded he first saw Laura there lauded so many timesas the sun and sum of all being here she seemssolid as the church bell that now chimes I’m standing before the plaqueon the theater’s stone façade; it says that backin 1327 he was gone.What does it really mean to love someone?Am I serious This one’s courtly love,the beautiful bow to beauty set aboveall others and despite the birthof eleven children and a ghastly death(at thirty-eight or some scholars say she had,an ancestor of the Marquis de Sade,or maybe hadn’t Old archives are so badwhen it comes to women however apocryphal.And Petrarch’s children’s mother—whom no legaltie ever bound I see her bring him candles he will lightone on another staying up late to writewhat she couldn’t read but heard about This poem was published in Commonweal’s hundredth-anniversary issue, November 2024 Mary Jo Salter is the author of nine books of poetry A co-editor of three editions of The Norton Anthology of Poetry and guest editor of the forthcoming The Best American Poetry 2024 she is professor emerita in The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University Louis Vuitton is pleased to announce that its Cruise 2026 show will take place on May 22 at the Palais des Papes in Avignon Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region this marvel of Gothic architecture—classified as a Historic Monument and UNESCO World Heritage site—marks the latest stop in the Maison’s architectural journey For Artistic Director of Women’s Collections Nicolas Ghesquière the setting serves as a natural backdrop for a collection rooted in travel and discovery whose construction began in 1335 under Pope Benedict XII the monument stands as a powerful symbol of history and craftsmanship—values deeply embedded in the DNA of Louis Vuitton This show joins a legacy of Cruise presentations staged at globally renowned architectural sites including the Bob and Dolores Hope Residence in Palm Springs the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum in Brazil It also echoes past shows set in the south of France such as the inaugural Cruise show at Place du Palais in Monaco and the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul de Vence In keeping with its longstanding tradition of supporting heritage and community in host cities Louis Vuitton will contribute to a local lighting initiative in Avignon The project will enhance the surrounding square’s historic buildings—including the Palais des Papes and the Hôtel Calvet de la Palun—while improving safety and highlighting their architectural beauty Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2026 collection will be available in stores worldwide beginning November 2025 Tuesday World Subscribers only Israel prepares large-scale Gaza 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Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris After an agreement with the theatre festival's management Pierre Gendronneau quit due to a 'climate of suspicion surrounding him,' after two accusations one from a previous role at the Festival d'Automne By Sandrine Blanchard and Joëlle Gayot stems from accusations against him of acts of sexist and sexual violence and harassment The accusations come as the Avignon Festival has taken measures to prevent sexist and sexual violence and harassment a set of improper behaviors and actions sometimes referred to in France by the abbreviation VHSS "We conduct training aimed at providing everyone with the same criteria to know what the rules of communal living are," said Eve Lombart and origins of people can lead to differing levels of tolerance stating that there is no tolerance within the organization and integrating teams with the presence of referents provide a rigorous You have 82.62% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial Originally designed in 1985 by architects Jacques Prunis and Béatrice Douine, the library sat squarely in the French city’s Saint-Chamand district — more neglected than nurtured in recent decades part of France’s Nouveau Programme National de Renouvellement Urbain (NPNRU) recasts the building as a symbol of community rebirth Now linked more directly to the city center via a new tramway line images © Roland Halbe the design concept by Jakob+MacFarlane centers on the powerful metaphor of a tree The soaring central staircase — its flanks lined with bookshelves — evokes a trunk rising skyward while the expansive new roof functions as a literal canopy Constructed from cross-laminated timber (CLT) and embedded with solar panels it provides both shade and sustainable energy all while celebrating the prodigious sunlight of the South of France While the tree metaphor provides a conceptual anchor its physical realization is more than just symbolic The new CLT roof floats above the original concrete massing dramatically lightening the building’s presence and announcing its new identity with bold architectural clarity Compared to the low-slung weight of the original structure and more responsive to its environment — both climatically and culturally It’s a strong urban gesture that reinserts the library into the city The building is stripped of all non-structural elements while the original concrete framework is retained The result is a raw but refined shell that bridges old and new without resorting to mimicry It’s an honest gesture that respects the building’s history while making it legible in contemporary terms Jakob+MacFarlane transforms a 1980s-built library in Avignon Today’s libraries are no longer just book depositories and the Avignon library under Jakob+MacFarlane’s direction embraces that shift physical volumes coexist with digital interfaces and spaces are designed to host as many podcasts and panels as paperbacks This new hybrid character supports the evolving functions of public libraries — places for debate Jakob+MacFarlane’s design acknowledges that people don’t just read differently now the library’s new heart is a light well — cut fresh into the building’s volume to invite daylight and delineate reading zones These reading areas tempt visitors to stay but they’re flexible enough to accommodate whatever comes next: a poetry slam further reinforces the library’s role as an open house for cultural life in Avignon the renovated library is part of a wider urban renewal plan for the Saint-Chamand neighborhood a central light well brings natural light into new reading areas designed by the architects a tree-inspired design concept symbolizes shelter the library embraces digital culture with flexible spaces for learning and gathering the original concrete structure is preserved and revealed through selective demolition architect, interior designer: Jakob + Macfarlane | @jakobmacfarlane photography: © Roland Halbe | @rolandhalbe HVAC: TPF Ingénierie wood structure: Gustave Ingénieur du Bois acoustical: Cabinet Conseil Vincent Hédont (CCVH) demolition: SDR structural work: Neotravaux wood timber frame: SN POULINGUE waterproofing: Alpha Group windows curtain walls: SMAB concrete facade restoration: Indigo ironwork: Masfer plaster: D3A wood furniture: Bareau ground: SPP painter: BRES electricity: Touranche HVAC: Selmac lift: Ermhes Paca Ascenseur Services compactus shelving: Bruynzeel shelves furniture: Denis Papin Collectivité AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style He was jailed for 20 years after drugging his ex-wife and recruiting strangers to rape her for years Fifty other men were sentenced alongside him Supporters were heard applauding her as a crowd of journalists gathered around to take pictures Follow our live coverage of the case ShareSaveMerz defeat 'an obstacle not a catastrophe'The man expected to be Germany's next foreign minister reacts after Friedrich Merz fell short in a parliamentary vote to be named chancellor. People cheer as power comes back on in MadridResidents applauded as the lights came back on in Spain's capital, after a huge power cut brought the country to a standstill. Watch: Traffic chaos as Spain and Portugal face power outagesFrom traffic lights turning off in Spain, to Metro stations plunged into darkness in Portugal - power outages have caused havoc. Why this Conclave means it's harder than ever to predict the next PopeThe BBC's religion editor Aleem Maqbool explains why it's so difficult to guess who will be the next pontiff. Watch: How the Vatican said goodbye to Pope FrancisHundreds of thousands of mourners gather in Rome to pay tribute to the late pontiff. People line the streets as Popemobile carries coffin through RomeThe Pope has chosen to be buried in a simple coffin at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Crowd applauds as coffin begins final journey The Pope is being laid to rest at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Pope Francis' coffin laid outside in St Peter's SquareThe pontiff's funeral is being held days after he died at the age of 88. Applause heard as Zelensky arrives for Pope Francis' funeralApplause heard as Zelensky arrives for Pope Francis' funeral US President Trump pays respects by Pope's coffinThousands have gathered in Rome to pay their respects to the late pontiff. Crowds gather in Rome ahead of Pope's funeralThe BBC's Sarah Rainsford says people from all over the world have gathered to pay their respects. Why Pope Francis won't be buried in the VaticanPope Francis will be buried in Rome's church of Santa Maria Maggiore, breaking a 100-year-old tradition. Pope mourners queue for 'chance to say goodbye'Pope Francis will remain lying in an open coffin until his funeral on Saturday Pope Francis's last public appearance on Easter SundayThe pontiff's last public appearance was for an Easter Sunday blessing at the Vatican's St Peter's Square. Watch: Pope blesses crowd as Easter celebrated worldwideThe most important date in the Christian calendar is being marked around the world. Watch moment Vladimir Putin announces 'Easter truce'It is unclear if Ukraine has accepted the terms or already discussed the plans for the pause in fighting with Russia. How BBC Verify investigated the seized homes of MariupolA look behind the investigation by BBC Verify's Olga Robinson and Christine Jeavans into the seized homes of Mariupol. Spanish police uncover illegal underground shooting rangePolice suspect the range was used by a weapons trafficking ring to test assault rifles and other arms. ad-hoc rally against the far right in the Cour d’Honneur This dramatic courtyard in the center of the Palais des Papes has been the festival’s marquee venue since its start in 1947; audiences enter a steep stone box with a massive performance area backed by one looming wall of the papal palace took the reins at the festival two years ago and his “vision of the stage,” he has said Avignon would become a “festival of resistance.” despite the lulling heat of a Provençal summer a sense of barely concealed combat still permeated the festival among the thousands of theatre bills and bulletins pinned around town a few torn Marine Le Pen posters.) Avignon’s beauty has a tranquillizing effect: the old city’s medieval ramparts kept the (literal) traffic of the modern world at bay and my gaze often floated up above the crowds to the linen-pale limestone buildings But even ten-foot-thick walls couldn’t block out the sound of a continuing you could still hear the clash of right against left brutal institutions against the vulnerable people they supposedly protect the Spanish artist Angélica Liddell had used her performance of “Dämon” in the Cour d’Honneur to attack specific journalists in the audience—she mocked their criticism of her past works and then mooned them that kind of brawling dramatic force was directed at larger authorities I came across Rodrigues himself at his own production Pas Hécube,” in which a woman named Nadia (Elsa Lapoivre) which was performed in a stunning repurposed rock quarry outside town begins on the first day of rehearsal for a staging of Euripides’ tragedy “Hecuba,” in which a Trojan queen learns that she has accidentally entrusted her young son to a murderer Nadia loses herself in a narratively parallel struggle: demanding justice for her own child who has been abused in a government-run care home The production offered a strange blend of righteous fury a full-company impersonation of an autistic boy dancing As we waited for darkness to fall over the quarry and the show to start I asked Rodrigues about his sense of political deliverance and he spoke about “a great weight” being lifted—temporarily Rodrigues clearly wants to incorporate a sense of the world and its agon into much of the work he programs the festival featured shows from a “spotlight” language—in this case He also programmed the Cour d’Honneur with “Mothers: A Song for Wartime,” Marta Górnicka’s explicitly activist song cycle which changes the lyrics of Ukrainian folk songs to rally Europe to the defense of Ukraine I watched the Polish director Krzysztof Warlikowski’s “Elizabeth Costello,” a mysterious eventually laborious adaptation of scenes from various J The performance stretched through the middle of the night—we got there at 10 p.m and left at 2 A.M.—and its longueurs were too punishing for me I can feel my mind straining back past the show’s indulgent last hour (ickily narrated by adults pretending to be children) to its startling first An actor playing Coetzee (Mariusz Bonaszewski) answers a panel’s questions about the character Elizabeth Costello an elderly author who pops up in many of Coetzee’s works “I’m not sure I ever had control over her,” he says he knows that his fictional character isn’t autonomous “there is nothing wrong with talking in metaphor.” Costello herself (Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak one of several actors playing the role) soon emerges to give a talk on the impossibility of realism in the modern era discussing a Kafka story in which an ape speaks to an academy of men about his process of becoming human The reader cannot be certain whether an ape is actually speaking or if Kafka is writing obliquely about Jewishness in Prague the performances laid some claim to post-dramatic authenticity There was an overwhelming sense that pretending—in the theatre!—has become not just unfashionable but passé (The German scholar and dramaturge Florian Malzacher has written elegantly about avoiding theatre’s “representational trap.”) Everywhere in Avignon we were in communication with “the real”: no fourth wall went unbroken; actors almost invariably called attention to themselves as actors Sometimes they were actually non-actors playing themselves as in the rollicking quasi-musical “Los Días Afuera” (“The Days Outside”) in which the Argentinean director Lola Arias collaborated with former inmates to describe their lives both in and out of prison Even shows that were not documentary productions in the strict sense gestured toward the conventions of that kind of work The performers in “Mothers” would like us to know that they are really mothers Pas Hécube,” Rodrigues’s fictional text is explicitly prosecutorial and procedural let us also be trained as juries.) The use of nonprofessional actors onstage has been key to avant-garde theatre practice outside the U.S although we certainly do make documentation-based work in our theatre—think of “Is This a Room,” taken from the transcript of Reality Winner’s interrogation by the F.B.I. or “The Laramie Project”—it is still very much an exception of the documentary shows I attended was Mohamed El Khatib’s “La Vie Secrète des Vieux” (“The Secret Life of Old People”) El Khatib stands onstage with his elderly cast occasionally prompting them with amused warmth as they relate what has become of their erotic lives as they’ve aged Both the show and its raconteurs operate with infinite mischief—for example a screen warns us at the start of the show that someone onstage might die and consider whether it is better to have died onstage than in a nursing home,” the supertitles coolly tell us the performers take a group snapshot with an urn amateur and professional in Avignon reduced me to rubble In “Léviathan,” a terrifying burlesque of the French court system directed by Lorraine de Sagazan actors wearing plastic masks and moving like windup toys act out several swift “immediate” trials: legal procedures that are offered to those who are caught red-handed he was actually convicted in sixteen minutes and twenty-four seconds during just such a trial—“I am an experienced customer of the police,” he says he trots into the theatre’s silk-draped tent and begins to eat pages out of the judge’s law books I am pretty sure that he was being metaphorical A long-ago crime, suddenly remembered A limousine driver watches her passengers transform The day Muhammad Ali punched me What is it like to be keenly intelligent but deeply alienated from simple emotions? Temple Grandin knows The harsh realm of “gentle parenting.”  Retirement the Margaritaville way Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Thank You for the Light.”  Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the best stories from The New Yorker. Nicolas Ghesquière is gearing up to debut Louis Vuitton’s cruise 2026 collection on May 22 at the Palais des Papes, a noted UNESCO World Heritage site located in Avignon, France. This historic monument, known for its stunning Gothic architecture, will be serving as the venue for a fashion show for the first time. The French luxury fashion house stated that it would assist in funding a local project devoted to lighting up the facades of the buildings surrounding the squares. These include the Palais des Papes itself, a cathedral, the Petit Palais, the Hôtel des Monnaies, and the Hotel Calvet de la Palun. Louis Vuitton released a statement, saying the initiative aims to “enhance the monumental architecture and ensure the safety of the roadways around the square.” The fashion brand remains committed to supporting local heritage and community projects in cities where it organizes cruise shows, a tradition that it plans to continue with the upcoming event. While the date of Louis Vuitton’s show was announced earlier, the location was kept a secret until now. According to the Palais des Papes’ official website, Benedict XII and Clement VI, both successors of John XII, mainly led the creation of this architectural masterpiece. The works began under Benedict XII’s rule in 1335, and the papacy returned to Rome in 1377. Ghesquière, appointed as the artistic director of women’s collections at Louis Vuitton in 2013, has a habit of choosing architectural wonders for the settings of the cruise shows. In 2025, he selected Barcelona’s otherworldly Park Güell, designed by renowned modernist architect Antoni Gaudí. For the 2023 show, he picked the quaint Isola Bella, a small island on Lake Maggiore owned by the Borromeo family for more than four centuries. Previous Louis Vuitton cruise shows have been hosted at a wide array of locations, such as California’s Bob Hope estate designed by John Lautner, Brazil’s Museum of Contemporary Art Niterói by Oscar Niemeyer, Kyoto’s Miho Museum by Ieoh Ming Pei, the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence by Josep Lluís Sert and the iconic TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport in New York by Eero Saarinen. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Louis Bonnet sought to minimise the crimes of Dominique Pelicot who admitted regularly drugging his wife and allowing scores of men to rape her The mayor of the French town at the centre of the shocking multiple rape trial has gone into hiding following death threats over comments he made in an interview. Louis Bonnet, 74, caused outrage when he said the crimes of Dominique Pelicot, 71, should not be blown out of proportion because “after all, no one died”. Mr Pelicot has admitted regularly drugging his wife, Gisele, now 72, and allowing scores of men to rape her over a 10-year period. Mr Bonnet is now under the protection of police officers in the south of France, at an unknown address far away from Mazan, where he was elected mayor in 2020. “I’ve been threatened, I’ve been insulted,” he said on Friday. “Someone asked the town hall for my address so that they could raid my home with a gang.” Mr Bonnet said he had also been receiving threats on social media, and by phone, since speaking to the BBC earlier this month. He had commented on the ongoing trial at the Vaucluse Criminal Court in Avignon, in which 50 men are accused of aggravated rape alongside Mr Pelicot. Mr Bonnet expressed views about rape that are widely held in France, especially among older men. He claimed to have received many messages from local residents who support him. Mr Bonnet said in the interview: “The bottom line is that at some point, when our village is seen as a breeding ground for rapists, people have to speak out. If there was a slip-up with Mr and Mrs Pelicot, it does not represent the whole village.” But he later made a full apology on Facebook, saying he regretted his comments. Ms Pelicot has waived her right to anonymity in a case that has caused shock and outrage around the world. She has been in the courtroom since the trial opened on 2 September, supported by her three adult children. Mr Pelicot was first arrested in September 2020 for secretly filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket in Carpentras. His devices were searched, and there were hundreds of pornographic videos and photos of women. It was while in custody that Mr Pelicot disclosed the existence of a hard drive containing some 3,800 photos and videos of his wife being raped between 2011 and 2020. Detectives have listed a total of 92 rapes committed by 72 men, 51 of whom have been identified. The sex ring involved advertising on a site for swinger partners on an online forum called “Without Her Knowing” on the now-defunct coco.fr site. Of the 83 men involved, 51 of them, aged between 26 and 73, were identified and arrested by police. Mr Pelicot is said to have sedated his wife by putting a powerful anxiolytic into her dinner. Alleged rapists involved in the case include civil servants, ambulance workers, soldiers, prison guards, nurses, a municipal councillor, and truck drivers. In a separate case, Mr Pelicot has been charged with raping and murdering a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris in 1991. He has admitted one attempted rape in 1999, after DNA testing proved a case against him. The aggravated rape case is due to last until 21 December. Fourteen of the other defendants have also admitted rape, while the remainder deny any wrongdoing. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Oscar Niemeyer's Contemporary Art Museum in Niterói The Cruise 2026 show in Avignon follows earlier French presentations at Place du Palais in Monaco and the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence Director Johann Dionnet 's Avignon is a French comedy set in the heart of the country's most famous theater festival a troupe actor who has come to perform a boulevard play entitled Ma sœur s'incruste he finds himself mistaken for the interpreter of the mythical Rodrigue in Corneille's Le Cid Rather than disabuse the charming Fanny of her identity Avignon will be shown on the big screen from June 18, 2025 Synopsis: Stéphane and his troupe arrive at the Avignon Festival to perform "Ma sœur s'incruste" Stéphane embarks on a lie that he'll have to keep up for the duration of the festival...but which will soon overtake him Avignon is aimed at fans of light French comedies, theater lovers and all those who appreciate romances tinged with misunderstandings. Those who have enjoyed films such as Alexis Michalik's Edmond or Fred Cavayé's Le Jeu may find a theatrical ambience here The film could appeal to a wide audience, from those who frequent the stage to those who enjoy contemporary romances, while at the same time winking affectionately at the world of live performance. The cast, which mixes familiar stand-up faces with established comedians which is both popular and rooted in the cultural world romantic comedy that skilfully plays on the contrasts between classical theater and boulevard The setting of the Avignon Festival is both charming and symbolic perfect for a tale of pretenses and summer crushes This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned June 2025 cinema releases: Films and times near youDiscover all the movies in theaters in June 2025 with showtimes near you. Don't miss a single movie! [Read more] Current and upcoming comedies in theatresWould you like to find out which comedies are coming to theaters now and in the coming months? We've put together a selection of films to be seen in cinemas now and in the near future! [Read more] Cinema: which film to see today, this Tuesday May 6, 2025?Not sure which film to see today? Well, we've got plenty of films to show near you. [Read more] This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here I have been humiliated,’ says Gisele Pelicot I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The woman at the centre of the Monster of Avignon multiple rape trial on Wednesday accused her attackers of being “degenerates” as she gave evidence in a case that has caused international shockwaves gave permission for the court to view horrific videos of her being drugged and raped by dozens of men while Mr Pelicot has admitted drugging his wife and violating her over a 10-year period has portrayed Mr Pelicot as one of the worst sex offenders in recent French history But Ms Pelicot has been listening to insults from some of the defendants in court “Not for a second did I give my consent to Mr Pelicot nor to these men who are behind me,” she said You have to have a degree of patience to endure everything I have to hear.” Mr Pelicot admitted all the charges against him on Tuesday, saying he had contacted his co-accused in online chat rooms before filming their crimes at his family home. “I admit to the charges in their entirety,” he told the court. “I am a rapist, just like everyone else in this courtroom. They cannot say otherwise.” As the cross-examination continued, Pelicot insisted he “still loves” his ex-wife. “I loved her well for 40 years and loved her badly for 10 years,” he said. “I ruined everything, I lost everything. I should never have done that” Pelicot said he started the attacks because he was “utterly idle” in retirement. He also claimed he “considered suicide” after learning his wife was having an alleged affair. Pelicot has been on remand since 2020, when he was first arrested on suspicion of drugging and then raping Ms Pelicot, while inviting men he had contacted online to do the same. Last week, psychologists described Mr Pelicot as a Jekyll and Hyde character who appeared like a normal husband during the day, and then drugged his wife so strangers could rape her at night. He was first arrested in September 2020 for secretly filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket in Carpentras. His devices were searched, and there were hundreds of pornographic videos and photos of women. While in custody Mr Pelicot reported a hard drive, hidden under a printer, which contained a file called “abuses”. Inside were some 3,800 photos and videos of Ms Pelicot being raped, between 2011 and 2020. Mr Pelicot is said to have sedated his wife by putting Temesta – a powerful anxiolytic – into her evening dinner. Alleged rapists involved in the case include civil servants, ambulance workers, soldiers, prison guards, nurses, a journalist, a municipal councillor, and truck drivers. In a separate case, Mr Pelicot has been charged with raping and murdering a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris in 1991. He has admitted one attempted rape in 1999 after DNA testing proved a case against him. The Avignon aggravated rape case is due to last until 21 December. Fourteen of the other defendants have also admitted rape, while the rest deny any wrongdoing. Gisele Pelicot arrives at court in Avignon Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. A mammoth rape trial in France moved into a new phase Monday as prosecutors began to lay out the verdicts and punishments they want for dozens of men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was drugged and rendered unconscious by her husband. A mammoth rape trial in France moved into a new phase Monday with prosecutors beginning to lay out the verdicts and punishments they want for dozens of men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was drugged and rendered unconscious by her husband. After hearings stretching over nearly three months, the trial in the southern city of Avignon is beginning to wrap up, with the prosecutors’ summing up of the verdicts they want for the 51 accused. (AP Video: Marine Lesprit) FILE - Gisele Pelicot speaks to media as she leaves the Avignon court house, southern France, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File) Women demonstrate to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as the trial of dozens of men accused of raping Gisele Pelicot while she was drugged and rendered unconscious by her husband goes on, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 in Avignon, southern France. (AP Photo/John Leicester) Gisele Pelicot, right, arrives with lawyers Antoine Camus, left, and Stéphane Babonneauat the palace of justice after a break Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 in Avignon, southern France, after the prosecutor asked for the maximum possible penalty for aggravated rape, 20 years, against Gisèle Pelicot’s now ex-husband Dominique Pelicot. (AP Photo/Marine Lesprit) FILE - Gisele Pelicot, who was allegedly drugged by her now former husband so that he and others could assault her, arrives at the court house, in Avignon, southern France, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File) Women demonstrate, one with a placard reading “Stop raping”, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as the trial of dozens of men accused of raping Gisele Pelicot while she was drugged and rendered unconscious by her husband goes on, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 in Avignon, southern France. (AP Photo/John Leicester) Prosecutor Laure Chabaud asked the panel of judges for the maximum possible penalty for aggravated rape — 20 years — against the victim’s now ex-husband. Dominique Pelicot, who turns 72 this week, stared down at the floor, one hand on the handle of his cane, as the prosecutor spoke. “Twenty years between the four walls of a prison,” she said. “It’s both a lot and not enough.” The court is expected to deliver its verdicts by Dec. 20. Gisèle Pelicot, who waived her right to anonymity, has pushed for graphic images that her husband filmed of the rapes to be presented in the courtroom, showing that she was unconscious and inert, audibly snoring. “This woman was you, Madame Gisèle Pelicot, an ordinary woman,” said prosecutor Jean-François Mayet, turning to her, as he praised her courage and her desire to make shame change sides, so it falls on rapists and not their victims. He noted that Monday also marked the international day for the elimination of violence against women and said that France faces “a long path for our society to change its view of rape culture.” Gisèle Pelicot sat quietly, sometimes staring up the ceiling, as the prosecutors detailed how Dominique Pelicot amassed and carefully catalogued a library of 20,000 photos and videos of the abuse that stretched over nearly a decade. The evidence that he stored on hard drives, memory sticks and phones led investigators to dozens of the men he recruited, although about 20 others haven’t yet been identified. All but one of the defendants are on trial for aggravated rape or attempted rape. In previous testimony, she said they treated her “like a rag doll, like a garbage bag.” “When did they ask the question of Madame Pelicot’s consent? Not before. Not during,” Mayet said. Members of the public who hoped to witness the proceedings and lined up outside booed some defendants as they entered the courthouse, yelling, “We recognize you” and “Shame.” Banners that campaigners hung opposite the building read “20 years for each of them” and “a rape is a rape.” Gisèle Pelicot was greeted outside with cheers and applause. “We feel it does her good. And it’s doing us good, too, because she’s really making a difference when it comes to feminism,” said Chantal Crémont, a supporter who traveled from western France. She added: “It’s revolutionary in a way. When she says that shame changes sides, it’s really that. She’s standing as the victim, and she’s turning the tables. It’s very important.” Prosecutors described the rapes one-by-one that Dominique Pelicot’s co-defendants allegedly committed on his unconscious wife and with his help and rules, including that they not make loud noises and first warm their hands so as not to wake her up. The defendants and alleged rapes are so numerous that the prosecutors were expected to take three days to summarize the evidence and detail the verdicts and sentences they want. In the first cases that the prosecutors focused on Monday, after requesting 20 years imprisonment for Dominique Pelicot, they asked for sentences of 10 years or more for co-defendants also on trial for rape or attempted rape. In previous testimony, many defendants told the court that they couldn’t have imagined that Dominique Pelicot was drugging his wife, and that they were told she was a willing participant acting out a kinky fantasy. Dominique Pelicot’s lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, said the prosecutors’ request for the maximum possible penalty against him was justified “in view of the gravity of the facts and the seriousness of the acts of which he is accused.” “There’s no surprise in asking for 20 years, and that’s what I personally expected. But it’s still a shocking and heavy sentence for a man who’ll be 72 in a few days,” she said. Prime Minister Michel Barnier, speaking in Paris at a center for women victims of violence, said: “The French have been deeply touched by the incredible courage of Gisèle Pelicot. This ongoing trial affects us all.” AP journalist Sylvie Corbet contributed from Paris. was so ashamed of his conduct that he wrote to Gisèle Pélicot One of 50 men accused of raping a French woman after she was drugged by her husband today said he ‘deeply regretted’ accusing her of being an ‘accomplice’ in a perverted sex game. Fabien Sotton, 39, was so ashamed of his conduct that he wrote to Gisèle Pélicot, 71, from his prison cell. He repeated his apology to her on Thursday at the Vaucluse Criminal Court in Avignon, where he is facing up to 20 years inside for ‘aggravated rape’. Sotton, an alcoholic who has spent large parts of his life sleeping rough, has been on remand in Pontet prison, along with Ms Pélicot’s husband, Dominique Pélicot, 72. The so-called ‘Monster of Avignon’ faces spending the rest of his life in a cell after inviting men like Sotton to the couple’s home in nearby Mazan after contacting them online. Recalling visiting the house for the first time in 2018, Sotton told the court that Ms Pélicot was lying naked on a table. ‘I was in the mood, I didn’t think she was drugged,’ he said. ‘I thought she was an accomplice.’ Admitted that he performed a sex act on Ms Pélicot, Sotton said: ‘I acknowledge the facts but I did not turn up to rape her. I did not know that she would be unconscious. ‘I didn’t think she was asleep, I thought she was going to wake up.’ Looking at Ms Pelicot in court, Sotton said in a trembling voice that he ‘apologised’ for ‘having believed she was an accomplice’ in a perverted sex game. He also wrote to her to apologise while he was in prison after his arrest in 2022, saying: ‘I deeply regret what I did.’ After listening to Sotton, trial judge Roger Arata said: ‘You admit that an unconscious person is absolutely not able to consent to anything?’ Dominique Pelicot, Ms Pelicot’s husband for 50 years before their divorce was finalised last month, has maintained throughout the trial that Sotton, like all the other men, was ‘perfectly aware’ that his wife would be drugged without her knowledge. Pelicot, a retired electrician, has admitted drugging his unsuspecting wife for almost ten years so the men could rape her. In turn, Ms Pelicot has waived her right to anonymity in a case that has caused shock and outrage around the world. On Wednesday, Husamettin Dogan, 43, and another co-accused said he had sex with Ms Pelicot despite thinking she ‘looked dead’. Like many of the defendants, he said he believed he was taking part in a sex game organised by the couple after corresponding with Pelicot on a swingers’ website. Ms Pelicot has been in the courtroom since the trial opened on September 2, supported by her three adult children. Pélicot was first arrested in September 2020 for secretly filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket in Carpentras. It was while in custody that Mr Pélicot reported a hard drive, hidden under a printer, which contained a folder called ‘abuse’. There were some 3,800 photos and videos of Gisèle Pélicot being raped, between 2011 and 2020. Pélicot’s sex ring involved advertising on an online forum called Without Her Knowing on the now-defunct coco.fr site. Of the 83 men involved, 51 aged between 26 and 73 were identified and arrested by the police. Pélicot is said to have sedated his wife by putting Temesta – a powerful anti-anxiety drug – into her evening dinner. In a separate case, Pélicot has been charged with raping and murdering a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris in 1991. He has admitted one attempted rape in 1999, after DNA testing proved a case against him. The Avignon aggravated rape case is due to last until December 21. Gisèle Pélicot arrives at the Avignon court house, in Avignon, southern France Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Tuula Rampont is thrilled to have found her own slice of “la belle vie” and loves sharing the best of what living in France has to offer The America she knew and loved seemed to be slipping away This was the sentiment plaguing Maureen Steinberg as the 2016 US Presidential election carved a corrosive swathe through the nation An ambitious real estate agent professional Maureen enjoyed what she described as "a very comfortable life" on the outskirts of Culver City an enclave of Los Angeles near Venice Beach She had never really imagined leaving the United States to retire abroad Her mother had immigrated to the US in the 1950s in pursuit of the American dream and Maureen had always felt immense pride in being a part of such an amazing country And yet… the polemic political discourse and shift in women’s reproductive rights quickly became issues she could no longer ignore Although hesitant to paint her homeland in a negative light the outcome of the 2016 election was the driving force that motivated Maureen to leave "Americans became so hateful and angry," says Maureen the idea of leaving the US started to gain momentum—with France continuing to appear as a top choice "I started doing a lot of research online," says Maureen, "looking at different countries, their lifestyles, and their cost of living. France continually emerged as a country that met many of the things I was looking for in a place to live the rest of my years." Learn more about France and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT: A Taste of France: All the Ingredients for the Good Life driving around France and exploring the different regions It was initially hard to narrow down a choice as she found each area "absolutely gorgeous." As a Southern California native the Dordogne—although beautifully lush and green—seemed too cold and rainy But the southeast had a climate similar to Los Angeles So she concentrated on towns in this region until she finally happened across the perfect fit the so-called "City of Popes." In the 14th century seven Catholic popes resided in Avignon instead of Rome with impressive medieval ramparts guarding its borders Winding cobblestone streets snake throughout the interior each giving way to a bustling market or quaint square with gothic architecture All of this unfolds under the watchful eye of the city’s crown jewel—the imposing Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) the Palace is one of the most visited tourist attractions in southern France The city’s historical lineage and architectural features only accentuated the charms of Avignon for Maureen and she quickly found herself infatuated with her adopted home "There’s something about walking around buildings and streets that have been here for hundreds of years," she says She believes her overall well-being has vastly improved by virtue of a French lifestyle where she’s not constantly moving about by car the distance between her and her friends’ homes made it difficult to ever meet up the idea of going out again was overwhelming and enjoying life has brought Maureen a great deal of peace she has to remember to pencil in time for herself as her days are booked up with social activities and dates with her new French friends stroll one of the beautiful farmers markets Exercise and getting outdoors has become a big priority in her life She can leave directly from her apartment and walk to trailheads (just outside the ramparts) that lead into the countryside Having now lived in France since 2020 Maureen says to keep in mind that the transition will be challenging at first and you won’t find things exactly as they were back home As the French are not "living to work" but "working to live," the slower pace of life will challenge some of your American ideals of convenience "You may get to a shop at 12 p.m.," she says "and it will be closed for lunch… which usually means around two hours’ time You have a cup of coffee and then come back later." that emphasis on a slower pace is now something Maureen has come to cherish about her new home and you can stay there forever," she says "They’ll never ask you to leave the table they even closed down the restaurant where my friend and I were eating—just told us to put our dishes aside and they would pick them up in the morning It’s very relaxing and appeals to me very much." The lower cost of living is also a very attractive feature of Maureen’s new life in France The price of going out to eat is also significantly lower than in the US—where she remembers paying $60 for two hamburgers and two orders of fries on a recent trip to L.A Maureen can enjoy a gourmet three-course meal for two at that price Perhaps even more impressive are the healthcare savings At first, Maureen was hesitant to utilize the French healthcare system the memory of crippling medical bills a hangover of her life in the US Yet she found herself pleasantly surprised when her hand was forced At the urgent behest of newfound French friends she eventually sought medical assistance for a stubborn eye infection "There was an eye specialist in the local hospital," she says "This is going to be a fortune." But the bill turned out to be a total of €12 Maureen says she has found the French healthcare system to be "excellent" and is comfortable with pursuing care in the future She notes that there’s less office personnel You may not find a receptionist to check you in or a separate nurse to take your blood pressure It might be the doctor who takes care of everything Other quirks of French life include adapting to the metric system getting used to different household appliances and bumping heads with the French language— which Maureen has taken on with a gusto her French skills have improved by leaps and bounds She points to one of the real benefits to her "boots on the ground" approach: getting to practice in the local shops you can be sure to learn "street French." Despite retaining a staunch love of the US and pride in being an American her move to Avignon has given her a kinder Maureen is one of those lucky individuals with dual citizenship so she is able to reside permanently in France with her EU passport the most common route to reside legally in France is the Long Stay visa A monthly income of €1,554 ($1,711) is the financial requirement for the Long Stay visa—equivalent to the French minimum wage Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London He also covers other areas of geopolitics including China Brendan joined Newsweek in 2018 from the International Business Times and well as English You can get in touch with Brendan by emailing b.cole@newsweek.com or follow on him on his X account @brendanmarkcole either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Women's rights activist Blandine Deverlanges wants to be in court to support Gisèle Pélicot as much as she can but often the testimony in the rape trial implicating dozens of men is too much so I cannot go every day," said Deverlanges a group whose members have protested outside Vaucluse criminal court since the case against Pélicot's husband Dominique and 50 other men started on September 2 "I felt sick," Deverlanges told Newsweek in describing the first time she heard details of how the retired electrician allegedly drugged his wife and recruited accomplices in an online chatroom to sexually violate her while it was being filmed "During the hearing I cry and the women around me you see tears on their faces—it is so inhuman This woman has been a victim of such monstrosity that we feel compassion and anger and everything is mixed," she said The range of professions and ages of the accused reflects a snapshot of different generations and a cross-section of working and middle-class rural France The modus operandi of the accused combined with the everyday nature of their occupations have tested public comprehension Gisèle Pélicot's courtroom response of "it is difficult for me to listen to this" was understated and echoed sentiment in France where the #MeToo movement has so far only implicated the famous and powerful "This case shows that the aggressor could be my brother my friend," said Hélène Devynck a journalist and key figure of the #MeToo movement in France "It highlights the culture of rape," she told Newsweek "Feminists have been explaining for years that there is no profile of an aggressor and that's what this shows," said Devynck whose 2022 book Impunity detailed accusations of sexual assault and harassment by many women against renowned TV journalist Patrick Poivre d'Arvor Devynck listed other high-profile cases of sexual assault in France involving celebrities directly addressed Gisèle Pélicot and lauded her stoicism for holding her head high and sharing a courtroom with the men on trial "That has had a totally overwhelming effect because by looking them in the eye "In France there is an even greater resistance than in the Anglo-Saxon world to condemning these men," she said they continue to work." But this case is different "That removes this exceptional side that we would like to put on the rapist who would be either at the top or at the bottom of society." The case spurred thousands of people to take to the streets in 35 demonstrations across the country in the hope that it would prompt other victims to come forward The case only came to light after Dominique Pélicot was arrested in 2020 accused of filming up women's skirts in a supermarket A raid on their house in the Provence town of Mazan yielded thousands of images and videos on a computer showing the alleged abuse of his wife many are charged with raping Gisèle Pélicot once Thirty-five said they did not consider their actions to be rape with many telling police they thought she was pretending to be asleep and was a willing participant Others said it was enough that the husband had consented "I think this defense strategy highlights the rape culture that is in France," said Anne-Cécile Mailfert founding president of the Fondation des Femmes which champions women's rights and awareness about sexual assault so of course everything they're saying is because they want to avoid jail." "But there is still this idea that men [who] are husband possess their wife's body and they are the owner of their sexuality," she told Newsweek Her organization is pushing for a change to French legislation on sexual offenses and is working with the nongovernmental organization of Gisèle Pélicot's daughter called M'endors Pas: Stop à la Soumission Chimique (Don't Put Me To Sleep: Stop Chemical Submission) who had been secretly photographed in the nude by her father there has been a new #MeToo case in France every two or three months involving celebrities which shows how an imbalance of power can lead to sexual violence But the cases were difficult for ordinary women to relate to and did not lead to any big legal change She said that while the #MeToo movement raised awareness about sexual violence and caused a doubling in rape complaints only six percent of them were pursued by investigators and there are fewer rape convictions in France today than in 2007 "All the men were in a kind of fraternity together each of them could have stopped and none of them did," said Deverlanges equality and fraternity and now when I hear the word fraternity should force a reflection in French society on issues brought up by it given the filmed nature of the alleged crimes the link between pornography and sexual violence "#MeToo has allowed women to express themselves but it has also given the opportunity for men to say 'not all men' and in essence very little has changed," Deverlanges said "We have seen a movement of recovery in which people who claim to be feminists give speeches that express the opposite," she said regarding the Pélicot case in which also "there are anti-feminists who are going to try to push their agenda." there is concern whether it can effect change especially if there is complacency among France's political class Mayor of Mazan Louis Bonnet recently said that the Pélicot case could have been "far more serious," adding that "no women were killed." the emotion in French society is so high that it can lead to a political response," Mailfert said "We have to change but we need that conversation we haven't had so far." Newsletters in your inbox See all French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton is heading to Palais des Papes to showcase its cruise 2026 collection on May 22 Louis Vuitton said that Nicolas Ghesquière The event will mark the first-ever fashion show hosted at the monument which overlooks the city of Avignon and dates back to the Middle Ages in 1335 when it was constructed under the initiative of Benedict XII As well as showcasing the cruise collection Louis Vuitton is also keeping with its tradition of supporting local heritage and community projects in the destination cities it selects for cruise shows and will help fund a lighting project for Palais des Papes The project aims to enhance the monumental architecture and ensure the safety of the roadways around the square and will illuminate the facades of the buildings facing the square Louis Vuitton has previously hosted its cruise collections in globally renowned locations and architectural masterpieces such as the Bob and Dolores Hope Residence by John Lautner in Palm Springs the Oscar Niemeyer Museum of Contemporary Art in Niteroi You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Gisele Pelicot and her lawyers Antoine Camus (L) and Stephane Babonneau (2ndL) leave the Avignon courthouse on Oct 23 after attending the trial of her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot accused of drugging her for nearly 10 years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan Both we and the legal system should be examining the predators Based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts Heather Mallick is a Toronto-based columnist covering current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @HeatherMallick Men should weep. Look at what some men do to women. Gisèle Pelicot a 72-year-old French grandmother retired in Provence is in court each day as 50 men accused of raping her while she was drugged unconscious by her husband tell the judge that it was not their fault he posted an invitation on a “Without Her Knowledge” website for men in their village She knew nothing beyond mysterious fatigue  “I am a woman who is destroyed, and I don’t know how I’m going to rebuild myself. I’m 72 soon and I’m not sure my life will be long enough to recover from this,” she now says. She will be in court until Dec. 20, sentencing day for the men, aged 26 to 74, journalists, firefighters, nurses, dads, brothers, friends Gisèle Pelicot has tried to figure out “The Monster of Avignon,” as her husband is called she had had an affair — and he had sex with other women — but they talked about it and recovered Did he nurse his anger and take historic revenge She appears in court each day well-dressed and composed for her motherhood — her daughter (whom he filmed nude and asleep) and seven grandchildren support her completely — her self-regard But this misses an important point. As journalist Joan Smith told the BBC, we laser-focus on victims rather than predators And this is how the legal system lets men who hate women get away with their crimes In rape cases, both cops and the average citizen look at where the women were that day, the time, their clothing, if they had been drinking, if their entire past has been immaculate as it must be. Remember Toronto Const. Michael Sanguinetti’s advice: “Avoid dressing like sluts.” The burden is on the victim to be perfect The “Monsters of Avignon” — 30 more couldn’t be identified from video — as they have been called are lawyered up and offer a thicket of excuses They claim they didn’t know she was unconscious although sometimes she was filmed snoring They claim they thought she was faking. One man with HIV raped her six times, without a condom One man’s wife was giving birth at the time; he was horny Another man’s wife told the court she had been tired and unavailable for sex so of course her husband had to go elsewhere I am a rapist” but with an explanation: I didn’t mean anything bad by it Smith asks men and women to consider not just that men will rape but that a vastly larger number will rape if they think they will get away with it They like women best when they are dormant “a garbage bag” as Gisèle Pelicot described herself France shares an ingrown belief with most nations including Afghanistan It is built into their male-created cultural history that women are lesser Gisèle Pelicot has become a worldwide heroine for running this courtroom gauntlet of male deficients. Why? She wants to tell all victims, male and female, “Look around you, you are not alone.” Opinion articles are based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The notorious ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot broke down in tears as he was convicted on all counts and sentenced to 20 years in a shocking rape case that sent shockwaves around the globe now faces the prospect of dying behind bars after confessing to luring numerous strangers to assault his drugged wife who remained unaware of the horrific events for years with sentences reaching up to 15 years for his accomplices Investigators uncovered a staggering 92 rapes involving 72 men in this disturbing case that has shaken France to its core while two were found guilty of attempted rape and two of sexual assault Recent: 'I am a rapist' - French man accused of drugging wife and letting at least 50 men rape her Gisèle leaned her head against the courtroom wall upon hearing her ex-husband's sentence She made eye contact with each defendant as their verdicts were announced was the second individual to receive a verdict found guilty of both attempted and aggravated rape against his own wife Many others received sentences that sometimes exceeded twelve years although several were less than what the prosecutors had requested A line of prison vans was stationed outside the courthouse prepared to transport the men following the conclusion of the sentencing Images captured Gisèle arriving at the Avignon courthouse earlier today Supporters gathered outside the court to rally behind her as the French grandmother has emerged as a symbol of resilience in recent months after bravely sharing her harrowing story Numerous women have congregated outside the courthouse during the hearings to show their support for her and the case has even ignited discussions about potential legal reforms in France One of the defendants was spotted concealing his identity with a mask Dominique and his fifty co-defendants were present to hear the verdicts and sentences seated in a glass enclosure within the courtroom with lawyers in black robes positioned around the family shocked the nation as it unveiled how Dominique portrayed himself as a devoted husband to Gisèle and a caring father to their three children and enlisted men to assault his wife for nearly a decade Dominique's depraved accomplices appeared to be ordinary individuals who would assault Gisèle before returning to their daily routines Dominique was initially arrested in September 2020 for covertly filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket in Carpentras he revealed the existence of a hard drive concealed under a printer containing a file labeled "Abuses" that held 20,000 images and videos depicting the assaults on his wife The incredibly courageous Gisèle endured over three months of distressing testimony during the trial This included showing excerpts from Pelicot's collection of homemade abuse videos and images in court Heroic Gisèle testified: "They treated me like a rag doll the disturbed Dominique admitted: "I am a rapist like the others in this room," and expressed that he might "die alone like a dog." When he spoke for the first time in court in Avignon he stated: “I am guilty of what I did – I apologize to my wife even if it’s beyond forgiveness.” He added: “She [Gisèle] didn’t deserve this.” Dominique claimed he experienced abuse during his childhood and alleged that he was forced to witness the gang rape of a woman at the age of 14 while working as a construction apprentice The disturbed individual remarked: “You are not born a pervert; you become one.” JUSTICE IN COURT Gisèle Pelicot opted to forgo her right to anonymity allowing the full details of the case to be publicly disclosed Her remarkable bravery has inspired thousands to rally behind her although Gisèle mentioned that she didn’t intend to spark a national discussion her decision for an open courtroom was to avoid being confined in a room with her alleged abuser she began receiving messages from numerous supporters stated: "When she started getting these letters she felt a sense of responsibility for victims who had endured similar experiences." Dominique reportedly instructed numerous men on how to avoid waking Gisèle during their assaults at night These instructions included avoiding aftershave or cigarette smells After parking a short distance from the couple's residence the attackers would change clothes in the kitchen to prevent leaving any garments behind in the bedroom It appears that Dominique was concerned about leaving clothing that might raise his wife's suspicions regarding the terrible abuse she was allegedly enduring Prosecutors claim he participated in the rapes and encouraged the other men with degrading remarks A few argued that Dominique's consent implied Gisèle's consent as well Others attempted to justify their actions by claiming they did not intend to commit rape when they accepted Dominique's invitations Some defendants shifted the blame onto Dominique suggesting he misled them into believing they were engaging in consensual activities Others even speculated that he might have drugged them Pont Saint Benezet bridge and Rhone river aerial panoramic view in Avignon Avignon is a city on the Rhone river in southern France Caroline referred to her father as one of the “most notorious sexual predators” in recent history Police found semi-nude photographs of Dominique's daughter in his “abuses” file In the heart-wrenching book "And I Stopped Calling You Father," Caroline shares her journey of grappling with the aftermath of her father's heinous actions She vividly recounts the sense of betrayal that washed over her upon learning about the alleged abuse she endured When confronted with photographs taken by her father she found it difficult to recognize her own image “The sheets seemed familiar in a vague way I kept insisting that I didn’t see myself in those pictures It was only when she spotted a unique mole on her right cheek that the realization hit her—it was indeed a photo of her “How could he have taken my picture in the dead of night without waking me protesters in France are demanding legal reforms the determination of guilt in rape cases does not hinge on consent the prosecution must establish that the perpetrator had the intent to commit rape Many defendants argue that they did not arrive at the Pelicot residence with the aim of sexually assaulting Gisèle there has been backlash against the defense attorneys who have questioned Gisèle's own intentions even suggesting whether she had ever entertained the idea of swinging Latest: California Man Arrested in Connection with Wisconsin School Shooting, Records Reveal the "Devil of Avignon," to 20 years in prison marks the end of a horrific chapter for Gisèle Pelicot and the many victims involved has ignited a national conversation about legal reforms in France Gisèle’s bravery in publicly sharing her story has turned her into a symbol of resilience while also shedding light on the need for change in how rape and consent are handled in the courtroom The case serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and victims' rights Tauck’s new ships will give travelers more options to explore France along the Rhône River (pictured here in Avignon) and the Seine Two of Europe’s most famous rivers—the Seine and the Rhône—offer two distinctly different experiences in France flowing past Paris’s most iconic landmarks and through storybook French villages while the latter boasts vineyard-covered hills and the sun-drenched landscapes of Provence travelers will have more options to experience both thanks to new ships and itineraries from Tauck The Connecticut-based guided tours and cruises company will expand its European river cruise fleet in 2026 with two new ships that will operate on the famed French rivers Tauck will launch the 124-passenger MS Serene in 2025 The 410-foot MS Serene will host up to 124 passengers on a new-for-2026 itinerary called “Bordeaux, Paris & The Seine” (starting at $7,240 per person) The 11-day journey will begin with a fully guided three-night exploration of Bordeaux and Saint Émilion before guests take a high-speed train to Paris to board the ship for a seven-night cruise along the Seine focused on multigenerational family travel) Guest rooms on each ship will range from the 180-square-foot Category 1 cabins single supplements will be waived on the Category 1 cabins Each vessel will also feature a reimagined Sun Deck passengers can take advantage of amenities including a fitness center All itineraries include all meals and beverages (including alcohol) The Louvre is one of Paris’s not-to-be-missed landmarks for first-time visitors a grande dame that was once the home of Coco Chanel The Provence region is a dream destination for Francophiles—as well as any travelers who love world-class gastronomy alongside breathtaking landscapes and old-world history you can wander through the sun-drenched streets of Aix-en-Provence where fountains and lively cafés set the scene the lavender fields of Valensole and Sault paint the countryside in shades of purple History lovers can explore the ancient Roman amphitheater in Arles or the stunning Palais des Papes in Avignon the dramatic Gorges du Verdon offers excellent hiking for outdoorsy types or a more laid-back exploration is a scenic drive through the rolling vineyards of the Luberon No trip is complete without indulging in local specialties Provencal-style: sipping on rosé in a vineyard and savoring a traditional bouillabaisse in Marseille For a dreamy stay in Provence, France-based Afar contributor Lindsey Tramuta recommends the Bastide de Gordes a luxury palace in the ancient hilltop town of Gordes in Provence’s Luberon area “heritage is in full effect,” with 34 rooms and suites decorated with 18th-century artwork and decor Many rooms offer stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside or the village’s cobblestone streets AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC France (AP) — Gisèle Pelicot spoke of her “very difficult ordeal” after 51 men were convicted Thursday in the drugging-and-rape trial that riveted France and turned her into an icon expressing support for other victims whose cases don’t get such attention and “whose stories remain untold.” “I want you to know that we share the same fight,” she said in her first words after the court in the southern French city of Avignon handed down prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years in the shocking case that spurred a national reckoning about the blight of rape culture Pelicot’s ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, and all but one of his co-defendants were convicted of sexually assaulting her over a period of nearly a decade after he’d knocked her unconscious by lacing her food and drink with drugs. The other co-defendant was convicted of drugging and raping his own wife with Dominique Pelicot’s help. As campaigners against sexual violence protested outside the courthouse, the 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot expressed “my profound gratitude towards the people who supported me.” “Your messages moved me deeply, and they gave me the strength to come back, every day, and survive through these long daily hearings,” she said. “This trial was a very difficult ordeal.” Pelicot — a hero to many in France and beyond for courageously demanding that all the evidence be heard in open court — also said she was thinking of her grandchildren after enduring the more than three-month trial, where she sat in the same courtroom as her attackers. “It’s also for them that I led this fight,” she said of her grandkids. “I wanted all of society to be a witness to the debates that took place here. I never regretted making this decision. I have trust in our capacity to collectively project ourselves toward a future where all, women and men, can live in harmony, with respect and mutual understanding. Thank you.” The court found Dominique Pelicot guilty on all charges and sentenced him to 20 years in prison, which was the maximum possible. At age 72, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. He won’t be eligible to request early release until he’s served at least two-thirds of the sentence. Dominique Pelicot and the other defendants stood up, one after the other, as chief judge Roger Arata read out the verdicts and sentences, which took more than an hour. Gisèle Pelicot sometimes nodded her head as verdicts were announced. Dominique Pelicot’s lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, said she would consider an appeal, but she also expressed hope that Gisèle Pelicot would find solace in the rulings. “I wanted Mrs. Pelicot to be able to emerge from these hearings in peace, and I think that the verdicts will contribute to this relief for Mrs. Pelicot,” she said. Of the 50 accused of rape, just one was acquitted but was instead convicted of aggravated sexual assault. Another man was also found guilty of the sexual assault charge he was tried for — producing 51 guilty verdicts in all. In a side room where defendants’ family members watched the proceedings on television screens, some burst into tears and gasped as sentences were revealed. Two women hold placards in support of Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot in Paris on Dec. 19, 2024. Photo by Abdul Saboor/ Reuters Protesters outside the courthouse followed the developments on their phones. Some read out the verdicts and applauded as they were announced inside. But disquiet grew as many of the sentences were lower than campaigners had hoped for, and cries of “shame on the justice system!” rose up from the crowd. In addition to the 20 years they sought for Dominique Pelicot, prosecutors asked for sentences of 10 to 18 years for the others charged with rape. But the court was more lenient, with many defendants getting less than a decade in prison. The five judges voted by secret ballot, by majority for the convictions and sentences. For the defendants other than Dominique Pelicot, sentences ranged from three to 15 years imprisonment, with some of the time suspended for some of them. Arata told six defendants they were now free, accounting for time already spent in pretrial detention. Sophie Burtin, 53, who traveled from Lyon to show support for Gisèle Pelicot, said the trial “brought the subject of rape out into open” but expressed disappointment that “the sentences aren’t at all exemplary.” “Some men will think, ‘OK, it’s alright, what they did wasn’t really a rape,’” she said. “The message that’s sent is, ‘Is it really serious?’ — with sentences that are so light. For me, It was meant to be a historic trial, but the feeling I have is that history hasn’t been made.” Gisèle Pelicot’s courage during the bruising trial and her appalling ordeal, inflicted on the retired power company worker in what she had thought was a loving marriage, galvanized campaigners and spurred calls for tougher measures to stamp out rape culture. She waived her right to anonymity as a survivor of sexual abuse and successfully pushed for the hearings and shocking evidence — including her ex-husband’s homemade videos of the rapes — to be heard in open court, insisting that shame should fall on her abusers, not her. The hearings fueled conversations on a national level in France and among families, couples and friends about how to better protect women and the role that men can play. “Men are starting to talk to women — their girlfriends, mothers and friends — in ways they hadn’t before,” said Fanny Foures, 48, who joined other women in gluing messages of support for Gisèle Pelicot on walls around Avignon before the verdict. “It was awkward at first, but now real dialogues are happening,” she said. “Some women are realizing, maybe for the first time, that their ex-husbands violated them, or that someone close to them committed abuse,” Foures added. “And men are starting to reckon with their own behavior or complicity — things they’ve ignored or failed to act on. It’s heavy, but it’s creating change.” A banner that campaigners hung on a city wall opposite the courthouse read, “MERCI GISELE” — thank you Gisèle. The defendants — strangers Dominique Pelicot recruited online — were all accused of having taken part in his sordid rape and abuse fantasies that he acted out with them and filmed in the couple’s retirement home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere. He first came to the attention of police in September 2020 when a supermarket security guard caught him surreptitiously filming up women’s skirts. Police subsequently found his library of images documenting years of abuse — more than 20,000 photos and videos in all, stored on computer drives and catalogued in folders marked “abuse,” “her rapists,” “night alone” and other titles. The abundant evidence led police to the other defendants. In the videos, investigators counted 72 different abusers, but weren’t able to identify them all. Although some of the accused — including Dominique Pelicot — acknowledged that they were guilty of rape, many didn’t. Some argued that Dominique Pelicot’s consent covered his wife, too. Some insisted that they hadn’t intended to rape anyone when they responded to the husband’s invitations to come to their home. Some laid blame at his door, saying he misled them into thinking they were taking part in consensual kink. Associated Press journalist Alex Turnbull in Paris and Nicolas Vaux-Montagny in Lyon, France, contributed. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins AVIGNON, France — In a packed courtroom Thursday in Avignon, France, the head judge asked each of the dozens of men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot — while she was nearly comatose, and at the invitation of her husband of 50 years — to stand briefly. Then he pronounced their convictions swiftly, one after the other: all guilty. By the time it was over, every one of the 51 accused men had been convicted, most of them for raping Pelicot in her own bedroom. Her husband, Dominique Pelicot, 72, who had admitted to drugging her over nearly a decade to abuse her, was the only one to get the maximum sentence: 20 years. The rest were given sentences mostly ranging from six to nine years. And with that, the trial that had both horrified and captivated France for almost four months ended with a victory for the woman at its center, Pelicot. She became a feminist icon for her bravery in allowing the case to be tried publicly to more fully expose the horrors of rape in a country where #MeToo hardly gained traction. After it was over, she stepped into a swarm of French and international reporters and hundreds of supporters eagerly awaiting her, who held up signs of appreciation and cheered when she emerged. There were so many of them that they stopped traffic on the road outside the courthouse. “Justice for Gisèle, justice for all,” one sign read. Another proclaimed, “All the women on Earth support you. Thank you Gisèle.” As she has throughout the trial, Pelicot retained her trademark poise, giving a simple statement about her decision to allow the world to witness the painful details of her rapes, rather than keep them private as is allowed by French law. Her goal was to force discussions of rape, including those facilitated through the use of drugs. “I wanted, by opening the doors of this trial on Sept. 2, that society would take up the debates that have been launched,” she said Thursday. “I never regretted my decision.” She said she had drawn strength from the backing she had received from people around the world, adding that the support had allowed her to return to the courthouse “over long days of this trial” — even when videos of some of the rapes were shown in court at her insistence. Although all the men were convicted, many feminist activists who have lined up daily to watch the proceedings in an overflow room were upset by the sentences. That was because in all cases, except for Dominique Pelicot’s, the sentences were lower than the prosecutor had recommended. Six of the convicted men were freed, having already served most or all of their time in jail. “It means you can rape a woman who was drugged in her own home and walk out free,” said Pascale Plattard, a member of the feminist collective the Amazons of Avignon, who was perched on a fence in front of the courthouse. “I am very angry.” Lorraine Questiaux, a lawyer whose Paris practice focuses on violence against women, called the sentences “relatively lenient, given the gravity of the acts.” Many of the lawyers of the accused said they were satisfied with the sentences, though it was unclear if some would appeal. The trial has rattled the country because of its many sordid elements. A grandmother and retired manager at a big public company, Pelicot had built what she and her children thought was a happy life with her husband. But that gauzy vision was torn apart one day in late 2020, when the police arrested him and told her of the abuse she had been suffering. Only then did she understand why she was losing hair and weight, and suffering repeated memory losses so severe that she thought she had Alzheimer’s or a brain tumor. Dominique Pelicot quickly admitted to crushing sleeping pills into her food and drink for years to rape her when she was nearly comatose. Then, he invited dozens of men he met online to join him, charging them nothing but regularly filming the encounters. (Gisèle Pelicot has since divorced him.) The case drew so much attention in part because of the sheer numbers of men who had participated and because of their varied and ordinary profiles. The French news media called them “Monsieur Tout-le-monde” — “Mr. Every Man” — and experts said they destroyed the myth of the “monster rapist,” replacing it with the image of the man next door. Aged 26 to 74, they appeared to be a cross-section of middle- and working-class men — tradesmen, firefighters, truck drivers, a journalist, a nurse. About 15 of the defendants pleaded guilty. The rest admitted that they had had sex with Pelicot but argued that they had never intended to rape her. Instead, most said that they had been lured by Dominique Pelicot to join the couple for a consensual threesome and had been told that Gisèle Pelicot was pretending to sleep or had taken sleeping pills herself. Most painted Dominique Pelicot as a master manipulator; some argued that he had drugged them as well, a charge he denied. Many offered stunning explanations to the court, qualifying their acts as “involuntary rape,” “nonconsenting rape,” “accidental rape” or “rape by body but not mind.” But the videos — which Gisèle Pelicot insisted be played in court as evidence and as a wake-up call to the country — showed the men penetrating her nonresponsive body. Earlier this week, the accused were given a last chance to offer any final words in their defense. Few took it. Many of those who had been free on bail for the trial arrived at the courtroom Thursday morning carrying small bags with their belongings in preparation for what the day might hold. Shortly after the verdict, they were whisked away by police and taken directly to prison. Their wives, mothers and daughters who had watched the verdict in an overflow room wept. As in other important moments during the trial, on Thursday, Pelicot was flanked by her and Dominique Pelicot’s three children. The trial, and the horrific crimes it documented, had shattered not just her life and identity but theirs as well. The children had considered their father a loving pillar of the family who had hosted fabulous birthday parties and was there for them, whether it was attending sports events together or making sure his daughter got home from parties safely. The revelation of his crimes and double life destroyed their perceptions of their childhoods. The couple’s eldest son, David Pelicot, told the court recently that he feared his own son, who remains in psychological treatment, had also been abused by Dominique Pelicot — a charge Dominique denied. The couple’s second son, Florian Pelicot, said he had lost his marriage because of the tragedy. And the couple’s daughter, who goes by the pen name Caroline Darian, is convinced she was also drugged and sexually abused by her father since the police recovered deleted photos of her from his electronics that showed her in underwear she did not recognize, asleep with the lights on. She was briefly hospitalized in a psychiatric ward soon after the police took her father into custody and checked herself back into a clinic during the trial, she said on Instagram, “to recover all my energy, to be able to sleep again.” Her memoir about the horrific discovery has been translated into English and will be released soon: “I’ll Never Call Him Dad Again.” Dominique Pelicot was convicted Thursday of taking and publishing sexual photos of her as well as of his two daughters-in-law. He had repeatedly denied abusing his daughter or grandchildren. As she left the courtroom, Gisèle Pelicot thanked her children, their partners and her grandchildren, including one grandson standing nearby, “because they are the future, and it’s also for them that I waged this battle.” Then, she shared some thoughts for the crowds. “I think of the victims, unrecognized, whose stories often remain hidden,” she said. “I want you to know that we share the same struggle.” She added, “I have confidence in our ability to collectively seize a future in which everyone, women and men, can live in harmony, with respect and mutual understanding.” With that, she was escorted by a knot of police officers through the thongs of reporters and into the giant cheering mass of her supporters. Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser! “I want you to know that we share the same fight,” she said in her first words after the court in the southern French city of Avignon handed down prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years in the shocking case that stunned France and spurred a national reckoning about the blight of rape culture. As campaigners against sexual violence protested outside the courthouse, the 72-year-old expressed “my profound gratitude towards the people who supported me.” “Your messages moved me deeply, and they gave me the strength to come back, every day, and survive through these long daily hearings,” she said. “This trial was a very difficult ordeal.” Pelicot — now an icon for many women in France and beyond after her courageous demand that all the evidence be heard in open court — also said she was thinking of her grandchildren after enduring the more than three months of hearings that prosecuted the rapes and other abuse inflicted on her by her now ex-husband and his more than four dozen accomplices over nearly a decade. “It’s also for them that I led this fight,” she said of her grandchildren. “I wanted all of society to be a witness to the debates that took place here. I never regretted making this decision. I have trust in our capacity to collectively project ourselves toward a future where all, women and men, can live in harmony, with respect and mutual understanding. Thank you.” World & Nation The trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman drugged by her husband highlights problems sexual violence victims can face in France The court sentenced her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping her and allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious, knocked out by tranquilizers he hid in her food and drink. The sentence was the maximum possible under French law. He was declared guilty on all charges. At age 72, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. He won’t be eligible to request early release until at least two-thirds of the sentence has been served. Dominique Pelicot and the 50 other defendants each stood up, one after the other, as chief judge Roger Arata read out first the verdicts and then the sentences — a process that took over an hour. “You are therefore declared guilty of aggravated rape on the person of Mme. Gisèle Pelicot,” the judge said as he worked his way through the long list of names. Gisèle Pelicot faced the defendants in the courtroom, sometimes nodding her head as the verdicts were announced. Dominique Pelicot’s lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, said she would consider an appeal, but also expressed hope that Gisèle Pelicot would find solace in the rulings. “I wanted Mrs. Pelicot to be able to emerge from these hearings in peace, and I think that the verdicts will contribute to this relief for Mrs. Pelicot,” she said. Of the 50 accused of rape, just one was acquitted but was instead found guilty of aggravated sexual assault. Another man was also found guilty on the sexual assault charge he was tried for — meaning all 51 of the defendants were found guilty in one way or another. The trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman drugged by her husband highlights problems sexual violence victims can face in France. In a side room where defendants’ family members watched the proceedings on television screens, some burst into tears and gasped as sentences were revealed. Protesters gathered outside the courthouse followed the proceedings on their phones. Some read out the verdicts and applauded as they were announced inside. Some were carrying oranges as symbolic gifts for the defendants heading to prison. Prosecutors had asked that Dominique Pelicot get the maximum penalty of 20 years and for sentences of 10 to 18 years for the others tried for rape. But the court was more lenient than prosecutors had hoped, with many sentenced to less than a decade in prison. For the defendants other than Dominique Pelicot, the sentences ranged from three to 15 years imprisonment, with some of the time suspended for some of them. Arata told six defendants they were now free, accounting for time already spent in detention while awaiting trial. Dominique Pelicot admitted that for years he drugged his then wife of 50 years so that he and strangers he recruited online could abuse her while he filmed the assaults. The appalling ordeal inflicted in what she had thought was a loving marriage and her courage during the bruising trial have galvanized campaigners against sexual violence and spurred calls for tougher measures to stamp out rape culture. The defendants were all accused of having taken part in Dominique Pelicot’s sordid rape and abuse fantasies that were acted out in the couple’s retirement home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere. California The federal government agrees to pay $116 million to 103 women held at a California prison called the ‘rape club’ to settle sexual abuse lawsuits. One of the men was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment not for assaulting Gisèle Pelicot but for drugging and raping his own wife — with help and drugs from Dominique Pelicot, who was also found guilty of raping that man’s wife, too. The five judges voted by secret ballot in their rulings, with majority votes for the convictions and sentences. Campaigners against sexual violence were hoping for exemplary prison terms and viewed the trial as a possible turning point in the fight against sexual violence and the use of drugs to subdue victims. Gisèle Pelicot’s courage in waiving her right to anonymity as a survivor of sexual abuse and successfully pushing for the hearings and shocking evidence — including videos — to be heard in open court have fueled conversations both on a national level in France and among families, couples and groups of friends about how to better protect women and the role that men can play in pursuing that goal. “Men are starting to talk to women — their girlfriends, mothers and friends — in ways they hadn’t before,” said Fanny Foures, 48, who joined other women from the feminist group Les Amazones in gluing messages of support for Gisèle Pelicot on walls around Avignon before the verdict. I am a rapist,’ Dominique Pélicot testified A large banner that campaigners hung on a city wall opposite the courthouse read Dominique Pelicot first came to the attention of police in September 2020 when a supermarket security guard caught him surreptitiously filming up women’s skirts Police subsequently found his library of homemade images documenting years of abuse inflicted on his wife — more than 20,000 photos and videos in all stored on computer drives and cataloged in folders marked “abuse,” “her rapists,” “night alone” and other titles The abundance of evidence led police to the other defendants investigators counted 72 different abusers Although some of the accused — including Dominique Pelicot — acknowledged that they were guilty of rape The hearings sparked wider debate in France about whether the country’s legal definition of rape should be expanded to include specific mention of consent Some defendants argued that Dominique Pelicot’s consent covered his wife Some sought to excuse their behavior by insisting that they hadn’t intended to rape anyone when they responded to the husband’s invitations to come to their home saying he misled them into thinking they were taking part in consensual kink Nouvian and Lesprit write for the Associated Press Associated Press journalist Alex Turnbull in Paris and Nicolas Vaux-Montagny in Lyon World & Nation Politics Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map The page you are looking for might have been removed had its name changed or is temporarily unavailable It is very easy to get the best seat in the house at a peaceful table One evening when the boat is moored in Viviers The lovely Roman town where Vincent van Gogh created some of his most memorable work The feeling of calmness is all-enveloping onboard The Ravel Leave behind the stresses of everyday life on a tranquil boat journey from Avignon to Lyon it is no problem to locate a quiet corner on the Upper Vista Deck or relax by the small but enticing and surprisingly underpopulated indoor pool the strains of everyday life seem to melt away; it's like living in the most supremely luxurious cocoon As the boat skims silently from Avignon to Lyon the only sound we hear is the lapping of the waves against the sides Every night this soothing rhythm gently lulls us to sleep The next morning we wake refreshed and open the curtains to reveal another exquisite medieval town From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox The first thing to say about eating on The Ravel is that there is no Captain's Table or forced jollity with other passengers You are absolutely not obliged to go to any cabaret nights or to socialise with strangers – I can hear you shouting "hurray!" from here It is easy to get the best seat in the house at a peaceful table by the window and while away the time in the company of the person you have actually chosen to go on the trip with The food at the elegant Waterside Restaurant carpets and curtains are appealingly decorated with wavy designs The sumptuous breakfast buffet stretches as far as the eye can see and the nightly five-course dinner – with wine pairing – is a thing of rare culinary splendour from the choice of four exquisite flavoured butters – truffle – to the wondrous selection of local produce Memorable dishes include the risotto Camargue with beef chorizo and tarte au reblochon with red onion compote and truffle honey Every item on the menu is handmade and the chef says the word “convenience” is taboo we are served a terrific barbecue dinner on the Upper Vista Deck I sample what is surely the most delicious Omaha Ribeye outside of Omaha we are serenaded by a fun local mariachi band which wanders from table to table treating diners to everything from "Volare" to "La Bamba." The service on The Ravel is ridiculously good as we travel past the celebrated vineyard of Châteauneuf-du-Pape one evening our wonderfully attentive butler – I know – that this area produces my favourite wine I think nothing more of it until I return to our bedroom after dinner to find Elvin has left us a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape on the bedside table It is this level of care that it is all too easy to become accustomed to The ship's manager says we can ask for anything from non-allergic pillows to paraben-free shampoo Nothing is too much trouble for the superb staff The Ravel makes several stops in idyllic medieval towns along the Rhône, including Avignon, Viviers, and Arles – the lovely Roman town where Vincent van Gogh created some of his most memorable work you instantly feel like an extra in "Jean de Florette" accompanied wherever you go by the shimmering sun and constant thrum of cicadas On our return to The Ravel after every excursion we are greeted by a welcome party of staff holding out a cold towel and a glass of buck's fizz A Riverside Luxury Cruise – the company's three ships also travel along picturesque routes on the Rhine Danube and Saône – very much has a "trip of a lifetime" feel to it Lots of people on board are marking wedding anniversaries and landmark birthdays It is easy to understand why people would want to take such a celebratory trip The boat is the ultimate "get-away-from-it-all" vessel It's a beautiful way to see a beautiful part of the world A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her has decided to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes PARIS (AP) — A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes The decision by Judge Roger Arata in Avignon in southern France to allow journalists and members of the public attending the trial to see the recordings marks a stunning reversal in the case that has shaken France It comes after a two-week legal battle in which journalists following the trial and lawyers of Gisèle Pelicot — who was allegedly raped over the course of a decade — argued that the videos were crucial for a full understanding of the extraordinary trial Pelicot, 71, has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence in France against the court's suggestion that it be held behind closed doors Pelicot has come face-to-face almost daily with her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot and 49 other alleged rapists She has been praised for her courage and composure admired for speaking in a calm and clear voice and allowing that her full name be published — uncommon under French law for victims in rape trials recorded by her ex-husband and submitted as evidence in the trial — in which men can be seen sexually abusing her apparently inert body — be shown to the public speak to her wish that trial serve as a national example one of her lawyers told The Associated Press “It's a unique case: we don't have one representation of rape hundreds of videos of a rape,” said the attorney “Gisèle Pelicot thinks that this shock wave is necessary so that no one can say after this: ‘I didn’t know this was rape'." The explicit videos shown during the trial, which has underscored the difficulties that sexual violence victims can face in France, are especially important, Pelicot's lawyers say, since the vast majority of the defendants deny the allegations of rape Some defendants claim Pelicot's husband tricked them others say he forced them to have sexual intercourse with her and that they were terrified Still others argue they believed she was consenting or that her husband’s consent was sufficient 20 ruling that the videos would be shown only on a case-by-case basis he had argued that they undermined the "dignity” of the hearings France's Judicial Press Association filed a request against the decision journalists and members of the public had to leave the courtroom a journalist who covers the judiciary for France Inter Radio and who has followed the trial says the videos are essential to the people's understanding of the case They would be no more disturbing that some of the evidence he has seen in the past “When we work on trials about terrorist attacks there are always difficult moments,” Deniau said he mentioned hearing several defendants earlier this week testify they had come to the Pelicots' house in Provence to have consensual sexual intercourse and that they were taking part in a “game” to see if they could get Gisèle Pelicot to wake up Deniau said that following the ruling on Friday the court was later in the day shown one four-minute recording from the collection of videos Deniau said the video appeared to counter claims by the defendants of a consensual “game.” Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks will meet on April 2 and 3 in Avignon (France) The contact group will discuss the season's progress and review the crops' phytosanitary situation The elimination of phytosanitary products and active ingredients necessary for crop management in the EU represents one of the sector's main challenges Community producers perceive these reductions and elimination of phytosanitary products as a competitive disadvantage compared to third-country crops The president of the Pear and Apple Committee and vice-president of Fepex who is also a member of the Afrucat association together with technical managers from the Federation will represent Fepex in this contact group 404,450 tons of which corresponded to table apples and 123,230 tons to cider apples according to MAPA's 2023/2024 Pome Fruit Season Report of November 12 Spain devoted 28,410 hectares to apple cultivation and 18,460 hectares to pears Italy produced 2.3 million tons of apples and 256,000 tons of pears and France produced 1.8 million tons of apples and 128,000 tons of pears For more information:www.fepex.es Frontpage photo: © Rachwal | Dreamstime FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com tells Dominique Pélicot: ‘You chose the depths of the human soul’ News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice The French woman at the centre of the “Monster of Avignon” multiple rape trial has addressed her abusive ex-husband for the first time in court saying: “You chose the depths of the human soul.” as she once more gave evidence that could see Dominique Pélicot while Pélicot has admitted drugging his wife and then violating her continually over a ten-year period has seen the so-called “Monster of Avignon” portrayed as one of the worst sex offenders in recent French history Armed French police to get new powers at Dover to enforce EU e-border scheme Two migrants dead after boat sinks in English Channel Heathrow expects to handle record 83.8m passengers in 2024 Pie Minister’: Government urged to give pie and mash protected status Ms Pélicot said: “I seem to speak loud and clear – I am not expressing my anger or my hatred but my will and my determination to change this society “I wanted all women who were victims of rape to be able to say to themselves that Ms Pélicot did it “I am a completely destroyed woman and I don’t know how I can recover from this I told myself that I was lucky to have you by my side.” She initially praised Pélicot for initally sticking with her during early suspicions of neurological problems which were in fact caused by the drugs he was secretly feeding her for scans when I was worried,” said Ms Pélicot “He also accompanied me to the gynecologist “I don’t understand how he could have got to this point And I’m going to tell him: I’ve always tried to pull you up Ms Pélicot suffered a least 92 acts of rape by more than 80 men Saying that “she couldn’t look at him,” Ms Pélicot added: “The rapist is not the one you meet in a parking lot Ms Pélicot continued: “I’m trying to understand how this husband “How my life could have turned upside down How could you have let these individuals into our home when you knew of my aversion to swinging Ms Pélicot said she did not regret renouncing her right to anonymity in court I have not regretted having given up on the closed-door hearing “I did it because this affair should never happen again and my example should serve as a guide for others it’s will and determination to make this society evolve.” Ms Pélicot suggested that her husband might have been taking revenge against her for having an affair three decades ago I wondered if he wasn’t taking revenge,” she said Ms Pélicot also referenced being regularly knocked out by her husband but said she had no idea how the drugs worked “The only thing I remember is pushing open the door to the living room and then going black,” she daid “He could very well have put the medication in my orange juice or in my coffee.” She said her husband was also always making meals for her “Mr Pélicot prepared a lot of meals,” she said Pélicot was first arrested in September 2020 for secretly filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket in Carpentras and there were hundreds of pornographic videos and photos of women It was while in custody that Mr Pélicot reported a hard drive It classified the nickname and telephone numbers of attackers together with some 3,800 photos and videos of Gisèle Pélicot being raped Pélicot’s sex ring involved advertising on a site for “partners” on an online forum called “Without Her Knowing” on the coco.fr site 51 aged between 26 and 73 were identified and arrested by the police Pélicot is said to have sedated his wife by putting Temesta – a powerful anxiolytic – into her evening dinner Alleged rapists involved in the case include civil servants Pélicot has been charged with raping and murdering a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris in 1991 He has admitted one attempted rape in 1999 after DNA testing proved a case against him The Avignon aggravated rape case is due to last until December 21 Fourteen of the other defendants have also admitted rape VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital BBC admits to ‘lapse’ in standards after Today coverage of Harry interview France — A man accused of drugging his then-wife and inviting dozens of men to rape her over nearly a decade is testifying in court on Tuesday in southern France While he previously confessed to investigators the court testimony will be crucial for the panel of judges to decide on the fate of some 50 other men standing trial alongside him Many also hope his testimony will shed some light — to try to understand the unthinkable Gisèle Pélicot has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence in France for agreeing to waive her anonymity in the case and appearing openly in front of the media She is expected to speak in court after her ex-husband's testimony on Tuesday the proceedings inside the courtroom cannot be filmed or photographed Dominique Pélicot is brought to the court through a special entrance inaccessible for the media because he and some other defendants are being held in custody during the trial Defendants who are not in custody come to the trial wearing surgical masks or hoods to avoid having their faces filmed or photographed a 69-year-old retiree who lives a half-hour drive from Avignon arrived outside the courthouse at 7:15 a.m to make sure she would secure a seat in the closely watched case "How is it possible that in 50 years of communal life one can live next to someone who hides his life so well while standing in a line outside the courthouse "I don't have much hope that what he did can be explained but he is at least going to give some elements." Pélicot's much-awaited testimony was delayed by days after he fell ill suffering from a kidney stone and urinary infection A security agent caught Pélicot in 2020 filming videos under women's skirts in a supermarket Police searched Pélicot's house and electronic devices and found thousands of photos and videos of men engaging in sexual acts with Gisèle Pélicot while she appears to lie unconscious on their bed police were able to track down a majority of the 72 suspects they were seeking Gisèle Pélicot and her husband of 50 years had three children the couple left the Paris region to move into a house in Mazan When police officers called her in for questioning in late 2020 she initially told them her husband was "a great guy,'' according to legal documents She left her husband and they are now divorced saying they were manipulated by her ex-husband or claiming they believed she was consenting Become an NPR sponsor I thought I was going to see a theater piece when I entered La Fabrica a main stage of the Avignon Theater Festival It turned out to be as much video as stage play Absalom!” is based on the novel by William Faulkner Faulkner tells the story of the rise and fall of Thomas Sutpen a white man born into poverty in western Virginia who moves to Mississippi where he hopes to become rich and be the patriarch of a family The novel is written as flashbacks and recounts the tragedies that befall Sutpen and his family because of the corruption of the southern slave culture in which they live It includes unintentioned miscegenation and the threat of incest The adapter/director Séverine Chavrier says the key question is the illegitimacy of the United States based on black slavery and the abuses of native Americans And this is shown through the history of a white family that destroys itself And to understand the director’s interest in the father the patriarchy and the system of exploitation that they produce in jagged movements comes out of a smoky coffin Sutpen walks to a real car with a young woman whose father had no money and gave/sold her to him as chattel you’ll have done your job.” Curiously she does not fight back but becomes a consumer with his money The videos on a large screen are live projections of actors interacting in small sections of the stage below but my gaze was taken by the much larger screen above which also showed English supertitles of the French dialogue I can pretend to die.” There is a shower of bent soda cans Sutpen appears as a huge face on the screen We see him driving and running through a field of bent soda cans Two real autos take turns moving on stage.The cars play a big role So to say this is not linear is to understate it A short-haired punk woman calls Sutpen Bluebeard There is not so much dialogue as singing declamations Real chickens and a turkey strut on the dirt on the stage “I am not a fool.” But that doesn’t go anywhere actors squirt machine-gun style water-guns “Absolon Absolon.” Adapted and directed by Séverine Chavrier based on novel by William Faulkner Produced by Comédie de Genève at La Fabrica Cast: Pierre Artières-Glissant, Daphné Biiga Nwanak, Jérôme de Falloise, Alban Guyon, Adèle Joulin, Jimy Lapert, Armel Malonga, Annie Mercier, Hendrickx Ntela, Laurent Papot, Kevin Bah. The roles they play are not provided. Festival of Avignon Click here to donate to The Komisar Scoop and website in this browser for the next time I comment Check here to Subscribe to notifications for new posts Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.