Pope Leo XIV met migrants in Paris and urged people to "live together in dignity and peace" ahead of a large open-air Mass on the Champs-Élysées expected to draw about 600,000 attendees. The U.S.-born pontiff visited Maison Bakhita, met migrants from several countries, warned about ethical risks of AI, and highlighted the need for humane treatment of migrants. He will visit Lourdes to meet abuse victims before concluding his trip in Metz with a speech on peace in Europe.
Pope Leo XIV Urges Unity: "Live Together in Dignity and Peace" Ahead of Paris Mass
The first US pontiff is visiting France on a four-day trip (Alberto PIZZOLI)
Pope Leo XIV told migrants in Paris on Saturday that it is possible to "live together in dignity and peace" as he prepared to celebrate a major open-air Mass on the Champs-Élysées expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people.
Visit Overview
The U.S.-born pontiff is on a four-day visit to France — the first official papal trip to the country in 18 years — as the nation approaches national elections next year. On the second day of his visit, the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics was due to lead an outdoor Mass from 3:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) at Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées. Organizers expected around 600,000 attendees.
Mass and Political Context
President Emmanuel Macron will not attend the Mass, but several presidential contenders, including far-right figure Marine Le Pen and centrist Édouard Philippe, confirmed they would be present. The pope’s visit has taken place against a backdrop of intense political debate in France about migration and national identity.
Maison Bakhita and Migrant Outreach
Earlier Saturday the pope visited Maison Bakhita, an association that supports migrants and refugees. He met women and men from Algeria, Belarus, Iraq and Ivory Coast and praised the house as "a witness to the whole city" that people of different backgrounds can encounter one another and live with dignity and peace.
"Whatever our political convictions, we share a common humanity and a right to dignity," said Valerie Moniod, president of the association.
Warnings and Messages
During earlier appearances, Pope Leo warned about the ethical risks of artificial intelligence, cautioning against an AI-driven "paradise of machines" and urging humanity to preserve human dignity. He has also criticized what he described as "extremely disrespectful" treatment of migrants in the United States and called for humane approaches worldwide.
Public Response and Next Stops
The visit has generated strong public interest: an estimated 300,000 people turned out Friday as the pope passed by Notre-Dame in his popemobile. After the Paris Mass the pope will travel to Lourdes, where he is scheduled to meet seven victims of clerical sexual abuse, and then conclude the trip in Metz with remarks focused on peace in Europe.
A 2021 national inquiry found that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused roughly 330,000 people as minors in France over seven decades; recent allegations have also involved prominent figures and institutions linked to the Church.
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