This priest helps prostitutes: “I don’t want to be their protector, I want to be their friend”

2024-02-01T04:09:35.625Z

Highlights: Olivier Delacroix goes to meet Jean-Philippe. This priest chose to dedicate his life to the most deprived and more particularly to the prostitutes of the Bois de Boulogne. He agreed to tell his story in this episode of the podcast “Dans les yeux d'Oliviers” produced by Europe 1 Studio. Jean-Phillipe grew up with violent and alcoholic parents. He was the victim of rape, an attack he could not confide to anyone.

Olivier Delacroix goes to meet Jean-Philippe. This priest chose to dedicate his life to the most deprived and more particularly to the prostitutes of the Bois de Boulogne. He agreed to tell his story in this episode of the podcast “Dans les yeux d'Olivier” produced by Europe 1 Studio. Jean-Philippe grew up with violent and alcoholic parents. At only five years old, he was sent to a religious boarding school where the rules were very strict and sometimes even amounted to abuse. At nine years old, the little boy who has never before known affection returns to live with his father again. But his new companion is also very violent with him. When he was 12, Jean-Philippe was the victim of rape, an attack he could not confide to anyone. Gradually, the young man falls into delinquency and lives on the street until the day he meets Fernand, who will change his life. This old Catholic man encourages him to turn to religion. During a pilgrimage to Lisieux, he discovered his desire to devote himself entirely to the Church. Jean-Philippe was ordained a priest at the age of 32 and devoted himself to those to whom he felt closest: the marginalized. So, for fifteen years, Jean-Philippe has been going to the Bois de Boulogne every evening, aboard the Magdalena association truck. An association which helps people who are homeless or in prostitution. A way for the priest to offer the attention and consideration that he did not receive during his childhood. In this episode of the podcast “Dans les yeux d'Olivier” produced by Europe 1 Studio, Jean-Philippe talks about his journey, his injuries and his path to altruism.