Paris, France – Pope Leo began a four‑day visit to France on Friday, a trip that combines a spiritual pilgrimage with a clear policy agenda. The pontiff will address President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, speak at UNESCO and lead a public Mass on the Champs‑Élysées, where more than half a million people have signed up to attend.
Faith and Family at the Forefront
The Pope’s itinerary reflects a commitment to traditional family values and the sanctity of life. France’s recent constitutional amendment enshrining a right to abortion and a new law allowing assisted dying for terminally ill adults have sparked fierce debate among Catholic leaders. Leo reiterated the Church’s teaching that every human life is sacred, opposing both abortion and assisted dying.
AI Governance as a Moral Issue
AI development tops the Pope’s agenda. In a recent Vatican address, he warned that while artificial intelligence can serve humanity, it also poses “new dangers to security and international peace.” He called on world leaders to establish global rules that ensure the technology is governed wisely. Leo is expected to raise the same concerns at UNESCO, where the agency faces budget shortfalls after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the organization in 2025 – a move the Pope’s supporters view as a step toward fiscal responsibility.
Healing Past Wounds
France has not seen a papal visit in nearly two decades, and the Church hopes the trip will help heal the wounds from a 2021 report that uncovered abuse of roughly 330,000 French children by clergy and lay leaders over seven decades. French bishops have introduced compensation schemes and safeguarding measures, yet survivors continue to demand accountability. “Leo bears the immense responsibility of ‘declaring enough is enough,’” said Alain Esquerre, a spokesperson for victims at the Notre‑Dame de Bétharram Catholic institution.
During the visit, the Pope will meet seven French abuse survivors in Lourdes and lead a prayer service at the restored Notre‑Dame cathedral, the first papal Mass there since the 2019 fire.
European Unity and Peace
The final stop of the tour is Metz, a city on the German border that played a key role in the founding of the European Union. Leo will deliver a speech on “the roots of Europe for peace and unity,” echoing his broader call for cooperation among nations.
French officials, including President Macron, have invited leaders from all 27 EU member states to attend the Metz address. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy may also be present, according to media reports, though his office has not confirmed.
Local Impact
For French Catholics, the Pope’s presence offers a rare opportunity to reaffirm their faith in public life and to see the Church’s leadership address both modern technological challenges and the lingering trauma of abuse. The massive public turnout in Paris underscores a deep desire for spiritual guidance and moral clarity in a time of cultural change.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
