Pope Leo XIV has called for respect for migrants and peaceful coexistence, saying people from different backgrounds can live together in dignity and peace.
The Pope made the call on Saturday during a visit to Maison Bakhita, an organisation supporting migrants and refugees in Paris.
He said he was pleased to begin the second day of his visit at a place that demonstrates the possibility of people meeting one another and living together peacefully.
Leo XIV was scheduled to meet women and men of Christian and Muslim faith from countries including Algeria, Belarus, Iraq and the Ivory Coast during the visit.
The association described his presence as significant ahead of France’s presidential election next year, with migration expected to remain an important issue in the political debate.
The Pope is on a four-day visit to France, his first official trip to the country since becoming the leader of the Catholic Church.
He is expected to lead an open-air Mass in Paris, with about 600,000 people expected to attend at Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées.
Leo XIV has previously called for migrants to be treated humanely and criticised what he described as “extremely disrespectful” treatment of migrants in the United States.
His visit has drawn large crowds, with an estimated 300,000 people turning out on Friday to see him as he travelled to Notre Dame Cathedral.
After the Mass in Paris, the Pope will travel to Lourdes, where he is scheduled to meet seven victims of clerical sex abuse.
He will then visit Metz on Monday, where he is expected to deliver a speech focused on peace in Europe.
Comments
Add a comment