The audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Hebdomaires Français 20 Apr 2025 Episode. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to.
The above audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Hebdomaires Français 20 Apr 2025 Episode. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to. The above is for educational purposes only. Find the full text and audio here or on Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.
s’est amusé
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The snippet in English
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Enfin, un exercice original dans le Nouvel Obs, où le chroniqueur David Caviglioli s’est amusé à rédiger l’offre d’emploi pour le prochain pape. On commence par la description de « l’entreprise » Vatican : « Depuis près de deux milles ans, nous intervenons dans le monde entier afin de fournir une grande diversité de services à plus d’un milliard de fidèles. Organisation des baptêmes, mariages, enterrements … »
Finally, an original exercise in the Nouvel Obs, where columnist David Caviglioli had fun writing the job offer for the next pope. It begins with a description of the Vatican “company”: “For almost two thousand years, we have been active throughout the world, providing a wide range of services to more than a billion faithful. Baptisms, weddings, funerals…”.
Translated with Deepl.
What does “le chroniqueur” mean?
Le chroniqueur means the columnist or the commentator—someone who writes or speaks regularly about a specific topic, often in media.
Le chroniqueur politique a vivement critiqué la réforme.
(The political columnist strongly criticized the reform.)
Ce chroniqueur intervient chaque matin à la radio.
(This commentator appears every morning on the radio.)
It comes from chronique (column or commentary), and refers to someone who contributes opinion pieces, reviews, or commentary, often in newspapers, magazines, TV, or radio.
A female form exists too: la chroniqueuse.
Depending on context, un chroniqueur can be:
- A journalist writing regular opinion pieces
- A TV/radio personality giving light or sharp takes
- A critic (film, culture, politics, etc.)
Culturally, les chroniqueurs in France often play a big role in public debate, especially on popular shows where they’re expected to bring personality, opinion, or controversy.
What does “s’est amusé” mean?
S’est amusé means had fun or enjoyed oneself. It’s the passé composé form of the reflexive verb s’amuser (to have fun, to amuse oneself).
Il s’est amusé à la fête.
(He had fun at the party.)
Elle s’est bien amusée pendant les vacances.
(She really enjoyed herself during the vacation.)
It can also take on a playful or ironic tone when followed by à + infinitive to mean he amused himself by doing [something]:
Il s’est amusé à tout critiquer.
(He amused himself by criticizing everything.)
Depending on tone, this can be positive (genuine fun) or sarcastic (messing around, being provocative). The verb s’amuser is reflexive, so it always takes être as the auxiliary in compound tenses.
What does “rediger” mean?
Rédiger means to write, to draft, or to compose, especially in a careful, structured, or formal way.
Il doit rédiger un rapport pour demain.
(He has to write a report for tomorrow.)
Elle rédige des articles pour un journal en ligne.
(She writes articles for an online newspaper.)
It’s commonly used for writing things like: – essays
– reports
– official documents
– emails
– legal texts
Culturally, rédiger is more precise and formal than écrire. While écrire is any kind of writing, rédiger implies clear, organized communication, often for publication, school, or work.
What does “l’offre d’emploi” mean?
L’offre d’emploi means the job offer or the job posting.
J’ai répondu à une offre d’emploi dans une start-up.
(I applied to a job posting at a start-up.)
L’offre d’emploi exige trois ans d’expérience.
(The job offer requires three years of experience.)
It refers to either:
– a published announcement about a job opening (what companies post), or
– an actual offer made to a candidate after recruitment.
Culturally, une offre d’emploi often appears in formal or administrative contexts (job boards, company websites, HR platforms), and is closely linked to recruitment processes in France.
What does “pape” mean?
Pape means pope—the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Le pape a prononcé un discours place Saint-Pierre.
(The pope gave a speech in St. Peter’s Square.)
Le pape François est en visite officielle.
(Pope Francis is on an official visit.)
Figuratively, pape can also refer to someone considered the leading authority in a field:
C’est le pape de la cuisine moléculaire.
(He’s the pope of molecular cuisine.)
→ Meaning: the most respected or influential expert.
So while le pape primarily refers to the religious leader, it can also be used playfully or respectfully in non-religious contexts to mean master, guru, or figurehead in a domain.
What does “intervenons” mean?
Intervenons is the first person plural (nous) form of the verb intervenir in the present tense, meaning we intervene, we step in, or we participate—depending on context.
Nous intervenons en cas d’urgence.
(We intervene in case of emergency.)
Nous intervenons régulièrement dans les écoles pour sensibiliser les élèves.
(We regularly take part in schools to raise student awareness.)
Intervenir can mean:
– to step in or interfere
– to participate (as a speaker, expert, or contributor)
– to take action (in a professional, social, or emergency context)
Culturally, intervenir is used often in official, social, academic, or crisis situations, where someone enters a situation to contribute, fix, or influence..
What does “afin de fournir” mean?
Afin de fournir means in order to provide. It’s a formal way to introduce purpose or intention, with afin de meaning in order to, and fournir meaning to provide, to supply, or to deliver.
Ce document a été créé afin de fournir des informations claires aux usagers.
(This document was created in order to provide clear information to users.)
Ils ont investi dans la technologie afin de fournir un meilleur service.
(They invested in technology to provide better service.)
Culturally, afin de is more formal and often used in written French, such as reports, official documents, or careful speech. In everyday language, it’s often replaced by pour: Pour fournir des informations utiles… (To provide useful information…).
What does “un milliard” mean?
Un milliard means one billion in French—that is, 1,000,000,000.
La population mondiale dépasse huit milliards.
(The world population exceeds eight billion.)
Il a investi un milliard d’euros dans ce projet.
(He invested one billion euros in this project.)
Important note for English speakers: In French, un milliard ≠ a million and ≠ a trillion. The word billion (English) = milliard (French).
French does not use billion the way English does. The French number system follows:
un billion (very rare in French) = 1,000,000,000,000 (a trillion in English).
un million = 1,000,000
un milliard = 1,000,000,000
What does “fidèles” mean?
Fidèles is the plural form of fidèle, which means faithful, loyal, or devoted, depending on the context.
It can refer to people, pets, audiences, or followers—anyone who shows constancy, loyalty, or devotion.
Les fidèles assistent à la messe chaque dimanche.
(The faithful attend mass every Sunday.)
→ Religious context: les fidèles = worshippers or congregants
Ses fidèles admirateurs l’ont suivi pendant toute sa carrière.
(His loyal fans followed him throughout his career.)
→ Devoted supporters
C’est un de nos clients les plus fidèles.
(He’s one of our most loyal customers.)
Culturally, fidèles can carry a religious, emotional, or commercial meaning depending on the setting—but always implies long-term trust or allegiance.
What does “enterrements” mean?
Enterrements is the plural of enterrement, which means funeral or burial in French.
Il a assisté à trois enterrements cette année.
(He attended three funerals this year.)
C’est un village où les enterrements rassemblent toute la communauté.
(It’s a village where funerals bring the whole community together.)
It refers specifically to the ceremony and act of burying someone, though it’s often used more broadly to mean the whole funeral event.
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The audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Hebdomaires Français 20 Apr 2025 Episode. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to. The above audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Hebdomaires Français 20 Apr 2025 Episode. We do not own this content, nor do we…
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