Pope Leo visits France: Pontiff wants to focus world's attention on peace, human dignity, technology

On September 25, Pope Leo arrived in France for a four-day trip aimed at repairing the Catholic Church's reputation following abuse scandals. The first US pope to visit France in nearly two decades, Leo was greeted by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, as well as children at Paris Orly airport. During his visit, he is set to travel to the Catholic shrine at Lourdes and the city of Metz on the German border.

Leo plans to renew calls for global rules on artificial intelligence (AI) development and present a vision for Europe's future. The Pope addressed the risk associated with AI as a major concern of his papacy, urging global leaders to "govern wisely" in overseeing the technology.

The visit comes amid tensions between the Catholic Church and French authorities over the 2024 legalization of abortion and the passage of a law legalizing assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses. The Church opposes abortion, assisted dying, and capital punishment, teaching that all human life is sacred.

Leo will lead a prayer service in Paris at the Notre-Dame cathedral, marking his first visit since a fire nearly destroyed the iconic Gothic masterpiece in 2019. He will also meet seven French victims of abuse by Catholic clergy on Sunday in Lourdes. The Vatican has not disclosed further details about the meeting.