Pope Leo ends France trip in Metz, spotlighting Schuman and EU unity
Pope Leo XIV ended his four-day visit to France in Metz on Monday by urging Europe to build on its Christian heritage and culture of dialogue rather than succumb to what he called the “desire for domination” behind many of today’s wars.
Pope Leo concluded his visit to France in the city of Metz, a place steeped in Europe’s history of territorial changes and strife. The purpose of his sojourn was to pay tribute to Robert Schuman, a French Catholic politician who played a pivotal role in shaping European unity following the devastation of World War II. During a ceremony titled "At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity," the Pope convened with European dignitaries and prominent figures such as Prime Minister Luc Frieden of Luxembourg, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, and former European Commission president Jean‑Claude Juncker.
Macron, who had initially been slated to only attend Leo’s morning address, also participated in the Mass at Saint‑Étienne Cathedral and the official departure at the airport after modifying his schedule. As the Pope emerged from the cathedral, throngs of onlookers were already present, their banners and rosaries indicating a deeply religious gathering.
Families welcomed the pontiff amid a festive yet reverent atmosphere. The Metz stop marked the culmination of a tour that had already garnered significant attention, with the Vatican estimating that approximately 800,000 individuals attended Leo's outdoor Mass in Paris, and thousands more partaking in the Lourdes candlelit procession.
The pontiff then departed France, concluding a journey that concluded with a farewell ceremony alongside Macron at Metz‑Nancy‑Lorraine airport.
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