Pope visits Metz: Leo XIV calls for peace in Europe and urges compromise
The pope praised Robert Schuman's step-by-step diplomatic approach but did not mention Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He was due to return to Rome on Monday evening.
Pope Leo XIV visited Metz, France, to call for peace in Europe and urge compromise. He praised Robert Schuman's step-by-step diplomatic approach, according to Le Monde English. The Pope met European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, and former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, in a gathering titled "At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity".
The Pope warned that relations between nations are becoming increasingly uncivilised, with RTE News reporting that he said "relations between individuals and states are becoming increasingly uncivilised" and that "the value of keeping one's word is dismissed". He urged Europe to help break the spiral of lies and deceit, with Kyiv Independent quoting him as saying that Europe can put an end to this spiral by respecting the other.
The Pope also called for concessions to create peace between Russia and Ukraine, saying that it is necessary to engage in a dialogue of passion and be ready to sacrifice certain positions for the superior good of peace, as reported by Kyiv Independent.
The visit to Metz, a city shaped by Europe's shifting borders and conflicts, was seen as a significant moment in the Pope's four-day trip to France. According to Euronews, the Pope's visit capped a journey that had already drawn large crowds, with around 800,000 people attending his outdoor Mass in Paris and tens of thousands joining him for Lourdes' famous candlelit procession.
Brief written by urgent.news from Le Monde English, Euronews, RTE News, PBS NewsHour, Kyiv Independent — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
