Pope Leo Urges Peace and Migration Reform in France

Pope Leo concluded a four-day visit to France on September 28, 2026, with a final address at the Robert Schuman Centre in Metz. Speaking to young Europeans and political leaders, the Pope urged a return to Europe's Christian roots to counter rising nationalism and what he termed the "mentality of violence and oppression." He specifically advocated for "legal and safe pathways" for migrants and warned against the "illusion that rearmament is the answer" to global conflict.

During the visit, the Pope held an open-air mass in Paris attended by approximately 700,000 people and met with survivors of child sexual abuse by French clergy in Lourdes, where he acknowledged that more work is required to address the scandal.

The visit highlighted a divide in European security perspectives. While the Pope called for patient dialogue and negotiations to end wars, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas argued that Europe must rearm more quickly to meet 2030 targets. French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the Pope, defended the European Union as a "unique invention" that remains essential in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.