Pope heads to secular France with an appeal to respect the dignity of every human life

Pope Leo XIV is embarking on a visit to secular France to emphasize the importance of respecting the dignity of every human life. The Catholic Church has had a diminished influence on ethical issues in the nation, which upholds strict secularism. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to spend four intense days in Paris, visit the Catholic shrine at Lourdes, and the northeastern city of Metz.

Up to a million people are expected to attend his arrival at Paris’ Orly airport, and his itinerary includes meetings with President Emmanuel Macron, a speech at UNESCO headquarters, a vespers service at the newly reopened Notre-Dame cathedral, and a youth vigil at the Paris stadium. The visit aims to draw attention to Pope Leo's appeals for peace and reflection amid the rise of artificial intelligence, and its implications for human existence.