Pope Leo XIV has commenced a landmark four-day visit to France, marking the first papal trip to the nation, historically known as “the eldest daughter of the Church,” since 2008, amidst a surprising surge in adult baptisms and a complex societal landscape. The visit, themed “That the world may have life,” arrives as France witnesses a significant influx of new adherents, with over 21,000 adults, primarily aged 18-25, joining the Church this year, a trend that Bishop Marc Stenger attributes to a deep need for guidance in uncertain times. This resurgence occurs in the shadow of a devastating 2021 report detailing decades of clerical abuse and the Church’s “deep, total and even cruel indifference” to victims, a wound Pope Leo intends to address directly by meeting privately with seven abuse survivors in Lourdes, a gesture of healing and vulnerability. His itinerary is packed with 15 speeches addressing critical contemporary issues, from protecting immigrants, the sick, and the unborn, to defending human dignity in the age of AI, a topic he recently warned could become a tool of “domination, exclusion and death.” The Pope’s stance on AI, urging international regulation, places him at odds with those championing unchecked innovation. The visit also navigates France’s recent legislative shifts, including enshrining abortion as a constitutional right and legalizing assisted dying, stark contrasts to the Church’s traditional teachings, particularly evident as the Pope prepares to speak at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, a site of pilgrimage and healing. His engagement extends to global diplomacy, with a speech at UNESCO headquarters and a concluding address in Metz, the birthplace of EU founding father Robert Schuman, where he will champion European unity, potentially alongside EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The sheer scale of anticipated public interest, with organizers expecting up to a million people for his Mass at Place de la Concorde and an extended security perimeter, underscores the profound significance of this visit, which also includes a prayer service at the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, a symbol of resilience.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
