Pope arrives in France on first official visit in 18 years
Paris: Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday for the Vatican’s first official visit to the European nation in 18 years, with artificial intelligence, young believers and the continent’s future near the top of his agenda. Church bells rang around the nation when the first US pontiff, whose paternal grandmother was born in France, landed outside Paris just before 10am for a four-day trip.…
Pope Leo XIV made his first official visit to France in 18 years on Friday, with AI, young believers, and the continent's future as key topics on his agenda. The 71-year-old pontiff landed outside Paris before 10am, greeted by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at the airport. A red carpet was laid out on the tarmac for the occasion. The Pope stated that his visit was to proclaim peace as he would in any other part of the world.
A million people are anticipated to attend events in Paris during the first two days of the visit. The main event will be a mass at Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysees on Saturday. Pope Leo will also visit pilgrimage sites Lourdes and Metz on the trip. Seven months ahead of France's presidential elections, where the far right is expected to gain power, Pope Leo is likely to discuss artificial intelligence regulation, migration crises, clerical sexual abuse, and peace in Europe.
At Lourdes, the Pope is set to speak with seven victims of clerical sex abuse during a visit on Sunday. His final stop will be Metz, where he is expected to deliver a speech on European peace.
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