After Lourdes, Leo XIV was in Metz. "Across borders, it is always possible to meet", he observed, recalling Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the EU. After mass in St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Pontiff left for Rome, where he landed in the evening, and on the plane he told journalists: "The growth of far-right groups" sees "expressions that combine such political positions with a certain form of religiosity does not represent an authentic expression of Christianity"
The apostolic journey of Pope Leo XIV to France has ended. Today, Monday 28 September, the Pontiff arrived in Metz in the morning. As in Paris and Lourdes, there were thousands of pilgrims to welcome him. Among the events there were an interreligious meeting, another dedicated to the roots of Europe, peace and unity, a short meeting with the political leaders present and mass in St. Stephen's Cathedral. In the evening, the Pope returned to the Vatican. "You cannot invoke the name of God to legitimize violence," Leone said in Metz. "Across borders, it is always possible to meet, make friends and build peace", he added, paying homage to Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union. Then the warning to Europe: "We must guard against the illusion of rearmament". Then, in a press conference on the flight to the capital, he observed: "The growth of far-right groups" in Germany and in other parts of Europe and the world sees "the appearance of expressions that combine these political positions with a certain form of religiosity; a religiosity which, in the opinion not only of me but also of the leaders of the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Germany, does not represent an authentic expression of Christianity. We must return to the values of the Gospel, which are not based on hatred and division, but on understanding, compassion and on accompaniment".
The Pope: "You cannot invoke God to legitimize violence"
After arriving in Metz, the Pope participated in the interreligious meeting in the "Robert Schuman" Congress Center. "Across borders, it is always possible to meet, make friends and build peace", said the Pontiff, paying homage to Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union. "This man of faith and conviction was able to transform old fault lines into bridges of hope for all of Europe, becoming a true ambassador of unity in diversity," he added. Then, addressing the representatives of the different faiths, Leone underlined: "Dialogue does not diminish our identity, but expresses it with simplicity and truth, opening up to the diversity of others". In another passage, the Pope underlined: "Invoking the name of God to legitimize violence or oppression constitutes a profanation of this name. Nothing that defaces human dignity can claim authentic divine inspiration. Religious discourse must constantly exhort us to disarm hearts and words."
See also
Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes, the invitation to politicians: "Promote peace"
The warning to Europe: "We must guard against the illusion of rearmament"
After the interreligious meeting, Leone spoke in another meeting dedicated to the theme "At the roots of Europe for peace and unity". Before his speech, again in the Robert Schuman congress center in Metz, the Ode to Joy, which is the official anthem of the European Union, resounded. "The search for peace in Europe, as in the rest of the world, must not be confused with naive irenism", said the Pope. Then he issued a warning: "We must guard against the illusion of rearmament". And a provocation: "Promoting peace is an active work. Today we must ask ourselves whether we are really making 'creative efforts' to promote world peace or whether we are simply trying to stem the bleeding of war and prepare ourselves better for those which we assume are yet to come". Again: "Unfortunately today the war has reappeared, even in Europe: a new 'useless massacre', which causes countless civilian victims every day." According to Leone, "international law and multilateralism underline the effective equality of States in their mutual relations and constitute the best antidote to the desire for domination, which is at the origin of every conflict. Today, human relations and relations between States are becoming more and more barbaric. The value of the word given is despised; we instead pride ourselves on lies and deception. Europe can put an end to this spiral thanks to the respect for others that it has been able to cultivate and preserve".
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"You can't talk about Europe without mentioning Christianity"
In his speech in Metz, after citing Robert Schuman and Alcide De Gasperi, the Pope explained that Europe must also look at its Christian roots, because "we cannot talk about Europe without mentioning Christianity". "To understand this long history – said Leone – we cannot ignore another Father of Europe: Saint Benedict, whom the holy Pope Paul VI proclaimed patron of Europe in 1964, defining him as 'messenger of peace, creator of union, master of civilization'". According to Leone, the "reference to the debt of European culture towards Christianity allows us to better understand how openness to the transcendent is always a constitutive dimension of the human person and a living source of civilization". Therefore, he added, "the secularity that regulates the life of States does not only imply the non-denominational character of civil institutions, but presupposes true collaboration between the parties, as well as respect, on the part of state and community authorities, for the autonomy of the Churches and the promotion of their freedom of organisation, expression and worship".
The invitation to welcome migrants
The invitation to welcome the migrants then came from the Pope. Contemporary Europe, he said, "is facing a new stage in its long history of encounters, with the arrival on the continent of many men and women fleeing from theaters of war and persecution, or in search of a better life away from poverty and misery. Welcoming a person means integrating them as if into one's own family, offering them the possibility of developing their talents, abilities and sensitivity, but also of entering into the spirit of the home that welcomes them". Leo
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Macron's words
Before the Pope's speech there was that of French President Emmanuel Macron. Europe must rediscover the "courage of its founders" and not give in to the "return of nationalism", said the leader of the Elysée, repeatedly mentioning Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi and Konrad Adenauer. "The millennial heart of Europe beats here, a Europe that protects, unites and acts. A sovereign and democratic Europe, animated by this project of peace and prosperity. A Europe that must rediscover the courage of its founders (...) the courage not to give in to closure, to hatred towards others, to the return of dividing nationalisms", underlined Macron. The president reiterated his "gratitude" and "joy" for the Pope's visit to France and hoped that the Pontiff had "perceived a fervent, united and happy nation".
The change of plan: Macron attends the mass
Macron has also changed his mind about attending the mass: while in recent days it had been announced that the French president would not take part in any celebration of the Pontiff, today the Elysée made it known that he had reorganized his agenda in order to participate not only in the Pope's farewell ceremony but also in the "mass that precedes it, at the Saint Etienne Cathedral in Metz".
Those present in Metz and the meeting with the Pope
In Metz, on the sidelines of the peace meeting, the Pope had a short private meeting with the heads of state and government present. According to the Elysée, among the political leaders and other personalities who attended the conference were Prince Albert II of Monaco with Princess Charlène, Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg with Duchess Stéphanie, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, the Bishop of Urgell and Prince of Andorra Joseph-Lluis Serrano Pentinat, the Minister and President of the German region of Sarre Anke Rehlinger, the former prime minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, the founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio Andrea Riccardi.
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Pope Leo XIV in France, welcomed by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron
Mass in St. Stephen's Cathedral
In the afternoon the mayor of Metz, Francois Grosdidier, welcomed the Pope in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral. Then the mass in which around 35 thousand faithful participated, in the church and from the streets and surrounding areas. In the homily, the Pontiff invited the peoples in conflict to choose the path of forgiveness: "You who are the children of this land, torn in the past by fratricidal conflicts, know well that it is not true that those who take revenge are stronger than those who forgive. It is not true that those who do not give in are stronger than those who seek reconciliation. It is not true that those who leave slamming the door are stronger than those who face the effort of walking together".
The last day of the Pope's trip
The Pope's day began at 7.40 am, with departure by plane from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées international airport towards Metz. Shortly after 9am, the Pontiff arrived at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine international airport. At 10am, at the "Robert Schuman" Congress Center in Metz, the Pontiff took part in an interreligious meeting, a moment of dialogue and discussion between representatives of different religious confessions. At 11am, again at the Congress Centre, the meeting "At the roots of Europe for peace and unity" was held, dedicated to the themes of peace, unity and the spiritual and cultural roots of Europe. After the Holy Mass in the Cathedral of St. Stephen of Metz, at 6.30 pm there was the farewell ceremony at the Metz-Nancy-Lorraine International Airport. At 7pm the plane left for Rome, where the Pope landed at Fiumicino airport at 8.55pm.
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Lourdes, Pope to victims of abuse: "My commitment so that it doesn't happen again"
