The Concordat of 1801

Bonaparte saw that the Revolution's conflict with the Catholic Church had divided France and fuelled revolts. In July 1801 he signed a Concordat with Pope Pius VII. It recognised Catholicism as the religion of the great majority of the French people, rather than as the state religion. The Church accepted the loss of its lands sold during the Revolution, which reassured millions of buyers. In return the state paid clergy salaries.

The First Consul would nominate bishops, while the pope would give them spiritual authority, and all existing bishops were asked to resign so the hierarchy could be rebuilt. When it was published in 1802, Bonaparte added the 'Organic Articles', which increased state control without the pope's agreement. Protestants and later Jews were also given state-recognised organisations. The Concordat ended the religious schism and largely lasted until France separated Church and state in 1905.