Pope Leo XIV called on France to defend human dignity, promote peace and protect the common good as he began his four-day apostolic journey to the country on September 25.
The Pope made the appeal during his address to French authorities, civil society representatives and the diplomatic corps at the Élysée Palace, following a private meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo highlighted France's historic contributions to culture, the arts, science and Christian thought, while urging the country to draw on these traditions in responding to contemporary challenges.
He said France's Christian heritage had contributed to its spiritual, cultural, intellectual and artistic life. Reflecting on the country's motto, liberty, equality and fraternity, he said these values correspond to universal ethical principles that also find an enduring source of inspiration in the Gospel.
The Pope also pointed to the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral after the devastating 2019 fire as an example of what can be achieved through cooperation.
He described the restoration as an “impressive technical achievement” and said it showed how something thought to be irreparably destroyed could be brought back to life through shared effort.
Pope Leo placed particular emphasis on the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Referring to his concerns about technological development and human dignity, he warned against allowing technology to diminish the human person.
“If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a ‘paradise of machines’ invading and conditioning our daily lives,” he said, there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment and the ability to recognize moral good.
He also praised the contribution of French Catholics to the poor and marginalized, recalling the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul. The Church, he said, seeks to be “the living face of God’s own mercy and compassion.”
The Pope cautioned that scientific and technological advances, when separated from deeper wisdom, could provide immediate responses to human suffering while diverting society from the greater good.
He called for respect for every human life and said concern for others requires a conversion of heart and mind as well as a selfless commitment to the common good.
Pope Leo also encouraged Christians to participate in public life while bringing the light of faith to their service. He said authentic secularity should not exclude religion but recognize its value as an “educational resource.”
Turning to international affairs, the Pope thanked France for its support for education and humanitarian initiatives in the Middle East, including efforts to help finance more than 260 schools and universities.
He expressed concern over the continuing suffering caused by war, particularly in the region where Jesus was born.
“We cannot remain indifferent in the face of their pain, which offends human dignity and cries out to God for justice,” he said.
Pope Leo called for the elimination of nuclear weapons and urged nations to pursue peace through dialogue and justice. Peace, he said, is not simply a “balance of power” but something that must be built each day.
He concluded by calling on France to remain a strong advocate for peace and multilateral cooperation.
“May France, faithful to its traditional values, work for a peace that is unarmed and disarming,” he said, “and responsibly offer its unique contribution to that goal.”
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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