Why did Jaques Cartier put a cross over France to claim it his land?

Jacques Cartier claimed land for France during his voyages to North America in the 1530s by erecting a cross, symbolizing French sovereignty and the Catholic faith. This act was meant to assert territorial claims and establish France's presence in the New World. By marking the land with a cross, Cartier aimed to signify that it was under the protection of the French crown and to facilitate future colonization efforts. This practice was common among European explorers as a means of claiming new territories for their nations.