Pope Leo XIV called on Europe to draw upon its Christian heritage and traditions of dialogue as he concluded his four-day visit to France, arguing that international law and cooperation between nations can help counter the forces driving modern conflicts. Speaking in Metz on Monday, Pope Leo invoked Europe's post-World War II experience of reconciliation and integration while warning against what he described as a growing "desire for domination" in international relations.

Pope Leo visited Metz, near France's borders with Luxembourg and Germany, to pay tribute to Robert Schuman, the French Catholic statesman widely regarded as one of the founders of European integration. He chose a conference centre named after Schuman for his final major engagement in France, using the occasion to connect Schuman's legacy of dialogue with contemporary challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine and other conflicts.

The Pope said international law and multilateralism represent a means of countering the pursuit of domination that can contribute to conflict. He also expressed concern about the increasingly confrontational nature of relations between individuals and states. Pope Leo's message came during a visit in which he repeatedly encouraged Europe to reflect on its Christian foundations while applying principles of dialogue and cooperation to present-day political and ethical questions.

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Schuman's legacy was central to the Pope's appeal. His 1950 declaration proposed combining the coal and steel industries of France and Germany, with economic interdependence intended to make another war between the historic rivals increasingly difficult. The initiative led to the European Coal and Steel Community and became an important step in the development of institutions that eventually evolved into the European Union. Schuman, who had been imprisoned by the Nazis during World War II, was declared "venerable" by the Catholic Church in 2021.

Pope Leo's France visit also included a stop at the Catholic shrine in Lourdes, where he criticised France's legislation allowing medically assisted dying, describing it as "false compassion." Large crowds attended his public appearances, including a Mass at Paris' Place de la Concorde. In a separate meeting with French religious leaders on Monday, Pope Leo urged them to promote peace and dialogue across borders, warning that invoking God to justify violence or oppression would misuse religion. He called on religious leaders to encourage the "disarmament of hearts and words" as part of their responsibility to foster peace.

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