Brief

Pope Leo XIV urges European leaders to preach peace in Metz

During a four‑day visit to France, the pope concluded in Metz with a speech at the Robert Schuman Centre, urging inter‑religious dialogue to address war, migration and polarization.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:18:45 GMT

Pope Leo XIV wrapped up a four‑day tour of France on Monday by addressing an inter‑religious gathering in Metz, near the German and Luxembourg borders. The ceremony, held at the Robert Schuman Centre, saw the pope speak to Jewish, Muslim, Protestant and Orthodox leaders, urging them to promote peace and dialogue across borders.

In his remarks, the pope recalled Schuman’s 1950 declaration that created the European Coal and Steel Community, arguing that shared economic interests had made another war between France and Germany “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.” He said faith leaders had a shared responsibility to forge friendships across borders in the name of peace, adding that invoking God’s name to justify violence was a profanation of that name.

The visit followed a series of high‑profile events, including a Mass in Paris’s Place de la Concorde that attracted an estimated 700,000 people and a meeting with seven survivors of child sexual abuse by French clergy. The pope also condemned France’s recently approved legislation permitting medically assisted dying as “false compassion.”

Metz’s cathedral of St. Stephen, noted for its Gothic architecture and stained‑glass windows by Jewish artist Marc Chagall, served as the backdrop for the final Mass of the tour. The pope’s visit, which began on 25 September, was part of a broader effort to highlight the Church’s stance on AI regulation, peace, and the resurgence of religious interest in secular France.

Key facts

Pope Leo XIV spoke to Jewish, Muslim, Protestant and Orthodox leaders in Metz (independent.co.uk)
The speech was delivered at the Robert Schuman Centre (independent.co.uk)
The pope urged faith leaders to promote peace and dialogue across borders (independent.co.uk)
He condemned France’s assisted‑dying legislation as “false compassion” (independent.co.uk)
The visit included a Mass in Paris that drew an estimated 700,000 attendees

Background

The pope’s tour of France began on 25 September and included a Mass in Paris, a visit to Lourdes, a UNESCO speech on AI, and a meeting with abuse survivors. His final event in Metz echoed the legacy of Robert Schuman, a French Catholic statesman who helped found the European Union.

Timeline

2026-09-25 — Pope Leo XIV begins French tour
2026-09-26 — Mass in Paris’s Place de la Concorde
2026-09-28 — Speech at Robert Schuman Centre in Metz

Why it matters

The pope’s appeal for inter‑religious dialogue reflects ongoing European tensions over war, migration and polarization, and underscores the Church’s role in promoting peace.