May 2026
On May 9 in Paris, as part of Forum Paris 2026, the exhibition and catalogue dedicated to Franz and Franziska Jägerstätter were presented, both specially translated into French for the occasion. The event drew a large audience, with around 150 people attending, confirming the strong interest generated by the testimony of the Austrian couple, who had already been at the center of one of the most visited exhibitions at the 2024 Meeting in Rimini.
The testimony of Erna Putz, friend of Franziska Jägerstätter
The event featured the participation of Erna Putz and was coordinated by Sara Doninelli. During her talk, Erna Putz shared personal memories connected to the deep friendship she had with Franziska Jägerstätter, who entrusted her with the original manuscripts of the letters exchanged with her husband Franz during the war years. She also recalled testimonies collected from Franz’s fellow prisoners, some of whom were French.
Giorgio Cavalli, on the other hand, explored the theme of freedom of conscience and the personal responsibility of Christians in the face of the tragedies of history, highlighting the contemporary relevance of Franz Jägerstätter’s story: the Austrian farmer who refused to swear loyalty to Hitler and paid for his decision with his life.
The exhibition on the Martyrs of Algeria was also present
Among the exhibitions featured at Forum Paris 2026 was also the Meeting 2025 exhibition “Twice Called. The martyrs of Algeria”, dedicated to the memory of the religious men and women killed together with Bishop Pierre Claverie between 1994 and 1996, during the so-called “Black Decade” of terrorism in Algeria. The title refers to the double fidelity lived by these martyrs: fidelity to Christ’s call through their vocation and fidelity to the Algerian people, themselves marked by violence and hatred.
Through unpublished materials, videos and testimonies, the exhibition tells a story deeply connected to the themes of reconciliation, coexistence and peace, showing the daily dialogue lived with the Muslim population with whom, as the postulator of the beatification cause Thomas Georgeon recalled, these religious “became one body”.
More than one thousand participants for Forum Paris 2026
The presentation was part of Forum Paris, a biennial cultural initiative promoting conferences, round tables, exhibitions, concerts and educational activities aimed at creating a public space for dialogue on art, education and culture. The 2026 edition concluded with more than one thousand participants overall, eight conferences, three exhibitions and numerous activities for children and teenagers.
The exhibition “Franz and Franziska” thus continues its international journey, bringing abroad the testimony of a freedom lived as personal responsibility and fidelity to one’s conscience.
