At the conclusion of his four-day visit to France, Pope Leo XIV called on Europe to work harder for peace and not close its doors to migrants. He delivered the message in Metz, a city that embodies the transition from European conflict to reconciliation.
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The Pope said relations between people and states were becoming more strained, while keeping one’s word was losing its value and lies and deception were appearing openly. In his view, Europe can halt this trend through mutual respect. The experience of the past eighty years, he stressed, has shown that differing views, demands and interests can be defended through meetings and dialogue rather than confrontation.
Metz carries particular symbolism for this appeal: during the European wars, the city passed several times from France to Germany and back again. Today, it demonstrates that hostility between the two countries can give way to cooperation. The visit was also a tribute to Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of a united Europe.
Schuman, who served as France’s foreign minister, had promoted Franco-German reconciliation and European unity. Referring to him in his speech, Leo XIV highlighted the need to tear down the walls dividing people and states. He warned of the increase in conflicts, described international law and multilateralism as the best counterweights to ambitions of domination, and criticized what he called the “illusion of rearmament.”
The Pope’s positions were also interpreted as criticism of the policies of US President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly its handling of international commitments, although Leo XIV did not mention the American president by name. At the close of his visit, he presented Metz as proof that reconciliation can be achieved when the courage is found to break the “chains of resentment.”
