Napoleon’s religious reforms were characterized by the concordat of 1801.

It was a diplomatic
agreement between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pivs Vll. Which aimed to reconcile the
relationship between the French states and the Catholic Church, after the upheavals of the
French Revolution.

He came up to negotiate with Pope,Because he understood he can not do any other things
without the help of church.

The concordat was signed on july 15,1801.

Together they decided catholicism to be the majority's religion in France,but it granted religious
freedom to individuals. It allowed them to practice other faiths.

Pope would select bishops for the church and those bishops would only be engaged with the
spiritual and religious activities. The bishops were now told to select priests but the whole
process will go under the state's approval. Basically the state will appoint them to work for the
church.

By this,Nepoleon is strategically putting state,even he gave state such a high position that the
church is now running under it.

The agreement ended the state of hostility between the French government and the Catholic
church and brought the church back into the public sphere while maintaining state control over
religious matter