Pope concludes France visit in Metz after Lourdes sanctuary pilgrimage
Pope concludes France visit in Metz after Lourdes pilgrimage, completing four-day apostolic mission.
Event / Society
Pope Leo XIV France Visit
Pope's visit to France including meetings with abuse victims and statements on sexual violence in the Catholic Church
4 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-09-21 to 2026-11-01 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 21 Sept, 11:56 UTC
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What happened
Pope Leo XIV nuances systemic nature of sexual abuse in the Church
On Monday, September 28, 2026, Pope Leo XIV nuanced his previous statements about sexual violence in the Catholic Church while returning to Italy from France. The Pope stated that certain organizations within the Church had sometimes committed abuses 'in a systematic manner,' but he expressed a preference for framing the issue differently than victims had described. He acknowledged that while perpetrators were individuals, systemic dimensions within the institution enabled the continuation of abuse.
Pope Leo XIV met with seven French sexual abuse victims in Lourdes
Pope Leo XIV met with seven French victims of sexual violence within the Catholic Church in Lourdes on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Each victim participated in a private meeting lasting approximately fifteen minutes, followed by a collective session. According to five of these victims, the Pope demonstrated a major awareness during the closed-door meeting and acknowledged the systematic nature of sexual violence within the Church.
Independent Commission found 330,000 sexual abuse victims in French Catholic Church since 1950
The Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (Ciase) released a major report five years prior to September 2026 (approximately 2021) estimating that 330,000 minor victims experienced sexual abuse within the French Catholic Church since 1950. This report revealed the systematic scale of violence within the institution and prompted the French episcopate to establish two listening and reparation mechanisms.
Pope Leon XIV calls for artificial intelligence regulation and warns against dehumanization
During his France visit, Pope Leon XIV issued calls to control the advancement of artificial intelligence and warned against the emergence of a 'paradise of machines.' The pope expressed concerns about AI development during multiple addresses across his four-day papal visit to France.
Over 60,000 people expected in Metz for pope's final day
Metz authorities expected over 60,000 people to gather in the city on September 28, 2026 for Pope Leon XIV's final day of activities, with many visitors coming from neighboring countries including Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.
Metz chosen as final papal visit location due to Robert Schuman connection
Pope Leon XIV selected Metz for the final day of his France visit because Robert Schuman (1886-1963), one of the founding fathers of European construction and currently being considered for beatification by the Catholic Church, is buried there. The choice of Metz, a border region historically marked by wars but also Franco-German reconciliation, held symbolic significance for a papal message on European peace.
Pope Leon XIV arrives in Metz for final day of France visit
Pope Leon XIV arrived at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport at 09:20 on September 28, 2026, for the fourth and final day of his papal visit to France. He was received by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The day included an interfaith meeting, a speech on peace and Christian roots of Europe, and a final papal mass at the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne.
Pope Leon XIV opposes euthanasia law in France
Pope Leon XIV strongly opposed France's recent law establishing a right to medical assistance in dying, stating it is impossible to consider giving death as normal. He declared that 'what is legal is not necessarily moral' and emphasized the Church's opposition to euthanasia during his September 27 address to sick and disabled pilgrims in Lourdes, two months after France adopted the legislation.
Pope Leon XIV addresses sexual abuse crisis in French Catholic Church
During a two-hour closed-door meeting with seven victims of sexual abuse in Lourdes on September 27, 2026, Pope Leon XIV demonstrated major awareness and recognized the systemic nature of sexual violence in the Church. He called on French bishops to continue their efforts against sexual abuse as a scourge, maintaining maximum vigilance. This occurred five years after a French report estimated 330,000 minor victims within the Church since 1950.
Pope Leon XIV delivers speech on European unity and peace in Metz
Pope Leon XIV delivered a major address titled 'To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity' at the Robert Schuman Congress Center in Metz on September 28, 2026. The speech emphasized European construction as a source of peace during a period of major geopolitical tensions. Emmanuel Macron participated in the ceremony and also spoke during this event.
Pope Leon XIV appeals for protection of exiles and displaced persons
Pope Leon XIV launched appeals during his France visit to defend the dignity of exiles and displaced persons. These calls were made during his four-day papal journey across Paris, Lourdes, and Metz from September 26-28, 2026.
Pope Leon XIV's four-day France visit attracts over 1.3 million people
Pope Leon XIV's papal visit to France from September 26-28, 2026 attracted more than 1.3 million people across Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. The pope maintained a rigorous schedule with large public masses, papal motorcade appearances, and public gatherings during his first visit to France since his election 16 months earlier.
President Macron attends papal mass in Metz after initially declining
Emmanuel Macron rearranged his schedule to attend the papal mass celebrated by Pope Leon XIV at the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne in Metz on September 28, 2026. The French presidency initially announced Macron would not attend any masses during the pope's visit, but he changed plans to be present at this final mass and accompany the pope to the airport.
Pope Leon XIV celebrates mass at Metz Cathedral in France attended by 800,000 worshippers
Pope Leon XIV presided over a major religious service at Metz Cathedral in France, attended by approximately 800,000 faithful and visitors. The mass was part of his four-day visit to France.
Pope Leon XIV travels from Lourdes to Metz for final papal events
Pope Leon XIV departed Lourdes on Monday morning to travel to Metz for the final events of his four-day visit to France, including a papal motorcade through Metz streets and the closing mass at the cathedral.
French President Macron attends Pope's departure ceremony in Metz
Emmanuel Macron reorganized his schedule to attend the mass at Metz Cathedral on Monday afternoon and participate in Pope Leon XIV's departure ceremony from France at 6:30 PM at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport.
Pope Leon XIV addresses Europe and peace at Metz congress center
Pope Leon XIV delivered a political speech at the Élysée Palace titled 'At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity' at the Robert-Schuman Congress Center auditorium in Metz on Monday.
Pope Leon XIV holds interfaith meeting in Metz
Pope Leon XIV participated in an interfaith meeting held at 10:00 AM at the Robert-Schuman Congress Center in Metz on Monday as part of his visit to France.
Pope Leon XIV and Macron hold discussions on peace, Europe, AI, and Lebanon situation
Pope Leon XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron held a substantive conversation on Friday upon the pope's arrival in France. They discussed topics including peace, European integration, artificial intelligence, and the situation in Lebanon.
Pope Leo XIV opposes euthanasia and right to die in France
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the Church's strong opposition to euthanasia during his visit to France, occurring two months after France adopted a law establishing the right to medical assistance in dying. At Lourdes on September 27, 2026, speaking before sick and disabled pilgrims, the Pope stated: 'It is impossible to consider it normal to give death' and 'What is legal is not necessarily moral.' He had also condemned 'the offer of programmed death' in his arrival speech at the Élysée on September 26, 2026.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Paris masses draw record crowds as Pope emphasizes spiritual renewal
Pope's Paris ceremonies draw unprecedented crowds amid surge in French Catholic baptisms.
Pope Leo XIV visits Lourdes sanctuary for spiritual pilgrimage and prayer
Pope Leo XIV conducts spiritual pilgrimage at Lourdes, presiding over mass and religious processions.
Pope and France clash over bioethics as nation embraces aid-in-dying
Pope Leo XIV addresses bioethical tensions with France as nation legalizes aid-in-dying, exposing Vatican-French governance conflicts.
Historic Paris crowds exceed expectations at papal masses
Pope Leo XIV's Paris masses attracted unprecedented crowds exceeding 600,000 at outdoor ceremonies.
France legalizes aid-in-dying as Pope addresses bioethics tensions
France legalizes aid-in-dying as Pope visits, highlighting bioethical tensions between Vatican teaching and French legislation.
Pope reaffirms Vatican opposition to nuclear weapons doctrine
Pope reaffirms Vatican opposition to nuclear weapons and deterrence during France visit.
Pope warns artificial intelligence threatens human dignity and warns of machine paradise
Pope Leo XIV's inaugural encyclical addresses AI risks to human dignity and warns of mechanistic futures.
Pope celebrates vespers at restored Notre-Dame, affirms press freedom
Pope celebrates first mass at restored Notre-Dame, affirms media freedom support during Paris visit.
Catholic baptisms surge across France amid papal spiritual renewal
French Catholic baptisms surge following Pope Leo XIV's spiritual renewal campaign across France.
Pope addresses migration and press freedom during France visit
Pope addresses migration and press freedom, expanding humanitarian advocacy during France visit.
Pope meets abuse survivors in Lourdes, advancing spiritual accountability
Pope Leo XIV met abuse survivors in Lourdes, advancing institutional accountability through direct engagement with vulnerable populations.