Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace and Dialogue at End of France Visit

Pope Leo XIV concluded a four-day visit to France on Monday with an appeal for peace, interfaith dialogue and respect for human dignity.

Speaking at an interfaith meeting in Metz, the pope warned religious leaders against allowing faith to be used to justify violence or oppression. He said, “Invoking God’s name to legitimise violence or oppression is a desecration of that name. Nothing that undermines human dignity can claim to be genuinely inspired by God.”

A call for responsible religious leadership

Leo urged religious leaders to promote friendship, peace, brotherhood and respect for every person. He also called for what he described as the disarming of hearts and words, placing responsibility on individuals as guardians of their respective religious traditions.

“Religious discourse must constantly call for the disarming of hearts and words,” he said. “This entails the direct responsibility of each of us, as guardians of our respective traditions.”

The pope said religions should “protect, accompany, and serve life” and stressed that people can work across borders to build peace.

Europe’s tradition of dialogue

Metz, in eastern France near the borders with Luxembourg and Germany, was the setting for Leo’s reflection on Europe’s history. The city is closely linked to Robert Schuman, described as one of the founding fathers of the European Union.

The pope spoke about the forces of dialogue that helped drive Europe’s integration after the Second World War. He said dialogue does not weaken identity, but allows it to be expressed truthfully while opening people to the differences of others.

“Dialogue does not diminish our identity but expresses it with simplicity and truth by opening us to the difference of the other,” Leo said.

He urged Europe to remember that tradition of dialogue as it confronts war, migration and polarisation. His remarks linked the responsibilities of religious communities with wider efforts to protect human dignity and sustain peace.

The names and affiliations of the religious leaders attending the Metz meeting were not provided. Details of the pope’s other activities during the four-day visit were also not available.