Pope Leo arrives in France with AI, apologies for clergy abuse on agenda

Pope Leo embarked on a four-day visit to France, aiming to promote peace and mend the Catholic Church's reputation following abuse scandals. His itinerary includes stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. Tensions between French Catholic leaders and the government have arisen over abortion rights and a new assisted-dying law. Pope Leo is set to advocate for global guidelines on AI development during his visit, addressing the technology's potential benefits and dangers to security and international peace at Unesco.

With 600,000 individuals registering for an outdoor mass in Paris, 37,000 security personnel will be deployed to ensure safety. French citizens have greeted Pope Leo warmly, viewing his visit as a positive signal for the country. The Pope's trip comes amid ongoing conflicts between Catholic leaders and the French government over abortion and assisted-dying legislation, with the Church opposing all forms of human life termination.

Pope Leo will also meet with seven abuse survivors in Lourdes, continuing efforts to demonstrate accountability following a 2021 report revealing that 330,000 French children were abused by clergy over seven decades.