France Pope
Pope Leo XIV, center, arrives, with, from left, Christian Krieger, president of the Protestant Federation of France (partially covered, Bishop Dimitrios (Ploumis), the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of France, Haïm Korsia, Chief Rabbi of France, President of the French Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Chems-eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Anthony Boussemart, representing French Buddhists, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, to attend an interreligious meeting at the Robert Schuman Convention Centre, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Metz, France.
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Pope Leo XIV is urging religious leaders in France to preach messages of peace and unity. He is wrapping up a four-day visit by recalling the forces of dialogue that contributed to Europe’s post-World War II integration. Leo traveled to the eastern city of Metz, near the border with Luxembourg and Germany. He is presiding over an interreligious meeting. It was held at a conference center named for Robert Schuman, a French Catholic statesman regarded as one of the founding fathers of European unity. Leo decided to end his four-day visit to France in Metz to drive home his appeal for Europe to remember its tradition of dialogue to confront today’s challenges of war, migration and polarization.