The Pope in France: war is not inevitable; we must promote dialogue and diplomacy
A papal visit to the country after 18 years reaffirms Europe’s central importance to the Church. Peace and the defence of life are at the heart of his message
A Pope returns to France after eighteen years, and in the homeland of state secularism he is welcomed with full honours, as well as by a vast crowd of people. Leo XIV chose France (after Spain) to reaffirm Europe’s centrality for the Church: ‘For centuries, France has shone as a cultural, artistic and spiritual beacon, not only in Europe but also throughout the world,’ he said in his address to the authorities at the Élysée Palace, following the welcome address by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
It was a busy day, the first of the trip that will take him to Lourdes and Metz , where Leone delivered a series of messages on peace, politics and issues of sensitivity to the Church. ‘Those who live in this country,’ said Leone, ‘together form a people in which the diversity of their origins helps to enliven and enrich social coexistence and democratic life.’ Indeed, “a truly free society does not impose uniformity, but protects the diversity of consciences, preventing authoritarian tendencies and promoting a dialogue that is all the more urgent in the context of today’s France, where people of different cultural and religious backgrounds are called upon to live together and make their own contribution to the building of society.”
Then, in his first speech, he addressed the issue of assisted suicide, which was legalised in France by a law passed a few months ago: ‘At times, I note with concern the current trends in society which risk distorting science and technology, transforming them into lucrative enterprises that encourage genetic manipulation, surrogacy, the buying and selling of organs, or the provision of a planned death. Let us not forget that mutual respect and the protection of every human life are a responsibility of each and every one of us, which begins with a conversion of the mind and the heart and requires a genuine and selfless commitment to our brothers and sisters.”
Then the issue of wars, which has always been central to his pastoral ministry: ‘I urge you never to resign yourselves to the prospect of war by regarding it as “inevitable”, but to promote dialogue and diplomacy tirelessly, with a view to preserving peaceful societies that respect the dignity and rights of individuals and peoples. Faced with the rumblings of war and the multifaceted crises shaking our world, France has a vocation – as Leo XIV said – to remain a tireless architect of peace and multilateralism, particularly within our beloved Europe. “May France, faithful to its values, blaze a trail towards a peace that is unarmed and disarming, and responsibly offer its irreplaceable contribution.”
In this context, he pointed out that ‘the mistaken belief that the possession of nuclear weapons constitutes a guarantee of security is becoming increasingly widespread, fuelling a new arms race that is difficult to control. In reality, peace is not a balance of power, but is built day by day through dialogue and justice’.
