[2] In 1971, Sr. Emmanuelle witnessed the impoverished conditions of the trash collectors in Cairo, Egypt, and decided to live among them.

It was upon her return that she gained the status of a media sensation in France, as she was well received by audiences and talk-show hosts.

[3] In addition to her charity work, she was known for her unorthodox religious views, including her approval of the use of contraception and of the idea of allowing priests to marry.

[3] She was voted one of the most popular people in both France and Belgium,[3] and was compared to Mother Teresa, although she herself regarded the comparison as "ridiculous".

In 2005 Sr. Emmanuelle ended in fifth place in the Walloon version of Le plus grand Belge (The Greatest Belgian).