# French separation of church and state (1905)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1905-french-separation-of-church-and-state
Location: Paris, France
Themes: Politics

France separates church and state. At this point in the timeline (1905), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Pius X (4 August 1903 – 20 August 1914).

## Why it matters
French separation of church and state mattered because it changed the relationship between the churches and political power.

Pope at the time: [Pope Pius X](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-pius-x)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_French_law_on_the_Separation_of_the_Churches_and_the_State)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — French separation of church and state](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=French+separation+of+church+and+state)
- [Wikipedia — Modern Era (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_20th_century)