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PARIS, France, Sept. 26 – Pope Leo XIV began a four-day state visit to France on Friday, receiving a ceremonial welcome from President Emmanuel Macron at Paris-Orly Airport before calling for stronger protection of human life, nuclear disarmament and ethical safeguards in the age of artificial intelligence.
Church bells rang across France as the pontiff arrived for his first visit to the country since his election last year. Thousands gathered along the streets to catch a glimpse of the pope, while authorities deployed around 14,000 security personnel for the high-profile visit.
In his first address to French political and civic leaders at the Élysée Palace, Leo highlighted what he described as France’s deep Christian roots and advocated a form of secularism that allows religion to remain visible in public life and education.
The pope called for dialogue between the state and religious institutions, arguing that both should work together in pursuit of truth, justice and the common good.
Referring to growing ethical challenges in modern society, Leo expressed concern that science and technology risk being reduced to profit-driven enterprises that encourage practices such as genetic manipulation, surrogacy, organ trafficking and assisted death. His remarks came just months after France legalized active euthanasia and assisted suicide for certain terminally ill patients.
Invoking France’s national motto, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” the pope said these principles represent universal ethical obligations rather than merely symbolic slogans. He also referenced the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in Paris, praising its role in promoting awareness of the inherent dignity of every human being.
The pontiff dedicated a significant portion of his speech to international peace and security. Condemning what he called the “scourge of war,” he urged France, the European Union’s only nuclear-armed state, to champion disarmament and strengthen efforts to ban nuclear weapons.
“Amid the drumbeat of war and the many crises shaking our world, France has a vocation to remain a tireless defender of peace and multilateralism, particularly within our beloved Europe,” he said.
Leo also warned about the social impact of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence. He cautioned against the loss of human identity and the emergence of imposed conformity, describing the prospect of a “paradise of machines” as a danger if technological development is not guided by ethical considerations.
According to the pope, a genuinely free society protects diversity of conscience, resists authoritarian tendencies and encourages ethical dialogue among citizens of different cultural and religious backgrounds.
Earlier, Macron held private talks with Leo before the public speeches. The French president described the papal visit as a “great honor and joy” and stressed that although France is a secular republic, it recognizes its Christian heritage and shares common goals with the Catholic Church in areas such as peace, human dignity, social responsibility, environmental protection and the ethical governance of artificial intelligence.
Macron defended France’s model of secularism, insisting it is “by no means a denial of religion.” He said the republic’s role is to enable every individual to believe or not believe according to conscience, provided that laws are respected. The president also condemned attacks on religious communities and pledged continued efforts to protect places of worship and promote interfaith dialogue.
After leaving the Élysée Palace, Leo visited UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where he called for a responsible approach to media and communications. Without a commitment to truth, he warned, language can become subject to violence and manipulation by powerful interests.
Later on Friday, the pope addressed around 80,000 people during an evening prayer service for young people at France’s national stadium in Saint-Denis. Urging participants to pursue justice and solidarity, he said avoiding evil was not enough and that individuals must actively choose the good.
The trip will continue with visits to the pilgrimage site of Lourdes in southwestern France and the eastern city of Metz, near the German border, where Leo is expected to deliver a major speech on Europe.
The visit comes amid lingering tensions between the Vatican and France. The Catholic Church has criticized recent French policies including the constitutional protection of abortion rights and legislation on assisted dying. At the same time, the Church continues to face scrutiny over its handling of clergy sexual abuse cases. During his stay in Lourdes, the pope is expected to meet privately with a small group of abuse survivors.
Despite France’s long tradition of strict separation between church and state, Catholics remain the country’s largest religious group, though an increasing share of the population identifies with no religion. Macron is not expected to attend the pope’s public Masses during the visit.
For many faithful, however, the visit remains a historic occasion. “It was a dream for me to see the pope one day,” 33-year-old Élodie told French broadcaster BFMTV as crowds gathered to welcome the pontiff’s arrival.
- source: APA/dpa/picture: vatican.va
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