Pope Leo XIV concludes his visit to France in Metz/ Emmanuel Macron will attend Mass

Pope Leo XIV will conclude his first apostolic visit to France on Monday in Metz, after three days marked by a large public turnout in Paris and Lourdes. The pontiff will attend events dedicated to peace, Europe and the Christian roots of European integration, amid international tensions marked by geopolitical strains.

President Emmanuel Macron will accompany the pope during this leg of the visit and attend Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral. The French head of state will also speak at the meeting dedicated to peace, after the Élysée Palace initially announced that he would not attend the pontiff’s services.

The pope is expected to arrive in Metz at 09:20 local time, where he will deliver two speeches and take part in one final popemobile ride. The day will conclude with Mass scheduled for 16:00 in the city’s Gothic cathedral.

During his visit, Leo XIV called for peace, the defense of the dignity of exiles and the regulation of artificial intelligence. In Lourdes, he urged French bishops to remain vigilant in combating sexual abuse and acknowledged its systemic nature during a meeting with victims. The pontiff also reaffirmed his opposition to euthanasia. According to the Vatican, more than 1.3 million people welcomed him in France.