Pope Leo XIV highlights EU unity and peace during final day in France’s Metz
On the final day of his four-day visit to France, Pope Leo XIV condemned using God’s name to justify violence and called for religious leaders to foster peace and brotherhood. Speaking in Metz, a city linked to EU founding father Robert Schuman, he emphasized dialogue and unity amid Europe’s challenges.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-09-28
Pope Leo XIV concluded his four-day visit to France on Monday by condemning any use of God’s name to justify violence and oppression. Speaking at an interfaith meeting in Metz, near the borders with Luxembourg and Germany, he urged religious leaders to promote friendship, peace, and brotherhood.
Metz holds symbolic importance as the city associated with Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union. The Pope recalled the post-World War II forces of dialogue that shaped European integration, stressing that Europe should remember this tradition when facing current challenges such as war, migration, and polarization.
He stated, “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.” Leo emphasized that religious discourse must call for disarmament of hearts and words and that religions have a responsibility to protect human dignity and serve life.
The Pope concluded by affirming that it is always possible to come together across borders to build peace, underscoring the role of religion in fostering unity and dialogue rather than division.