Pope Leo XIV arrived in France for a four-day state visit

Pope Leo XIV arrived in France for a four-day visit to the ringing of bells. President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte received the head of the Catholic Church with military honors. Thousands of people lined the streets in Paris. Leo then met Macron for a personal conversation at the Élysée Palace.

In a subsequent speech, the Pope praised France as a country of human rights, but also found critical words. Leo called for greater protection for human life. The right to life is the basis for all other human rights, he said.

In doing so, the Pope also addressed a politically controversial issue in France. In the summer, euthanasia was permitted there for seriously ill people under certain conditions. France was also the first country to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution. Pope Leo opposes both abortion and euthanasia.

Warning of arms race and risks from AI

The Pope also addressed France's nuclear policy. Leo warned against the idea that nuclear weapons could guarantee security. This promotes a new arms race. Peace does not come from a balance of power, but from dialogue and justice. France is the only EU country with its own nuclear weapons.

Leo also warned again about the risks posed by artificial intelligence and uncontrolled technical progress. Science and technology must be people-oriented. For his part, Macron called for an international organization to control AI. It must be prevented that the most powerful models remain in the hands of a few.

Hundreds of thousands expected at the fair

In the afternoon Leo continues his visit to the UN cultural organization UNESCO. Afterwards there will be vespers in the rebuilt Notre-Dame Cathedral. A prayer meeting with around 80,000 young people is planned for the evening at the Stade de France.

On Saturday the Pope wants to celebrate a mass on the Place de la Concorde. Around 600,000 people are expected to attend. However, President Macron will not attend. He also wants to stay away from the other major papal masses during the trip.

Secular France

This corresponds to the strict separation of church and state, the so-called secularism, which has been in effect in France for more than a century. Presidential restraint at papal masses is a tradition there. At Leo's reception, Macron emphasized that secularism does not mean denial of religion.

Leo then travels on to the pilgrimage site of Lourdes, where he also wants to meet with those affected by sexual abuse by clergy. At the end of his visit, a political speech is planned in Metz on Monday. The city is closely linked to one of the founding fathers of the European Union, Robert Schuman.

It is Leo's first visit to France since his election as Pope. The pontiff, who comes from the USA, also has French roots: his grandmother came from Normandy.