Pope Leo XIV ended his four-day France visit in Metz on Monday, urging Europe to build on its Christian heritage and culture of dialogue. The stop honored Robert Schuman, a French Catholic statesman who became one of the architects of European integration after World War II.
At a gathering titled “At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity,” Leo met Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. Macron, who was initially scheduled to attend only Leo’s morning speech, also joined the Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral and the airport farewell after changing his schedule.
The Vatican said around 800,000 people attended Leo’s outdoor Mass in Paris, while tens of thousands joined him for Lourdes’ candlelit procession. He left France after a farewell ceremony with Macron at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport.
