By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 25, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Pope Leo arrived in France on September 25 for a four-day visit, emphasizing peace in a world marked by conflict. The visit also focuses on addressing the Catholic Church’s credibility following abuse scandals.
Upon arrival at Paris Orly airport, Pope Leo was welcomed by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, along with children who sang and sought autographs. His itinerary includes visits to the Catholic shrine at Lourdes and Metz, near the German border.
During his visit from September 25 to 28, Pope Leo plans to advocate for global regulations on AI development and discuss Europe’s future. He will deliver speeches to French leaders at the Elysee Palace and UNESCO staff, addressing the agency’s financial challenges following the U.S. withdrawal under President Trump in 2025.
Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope, has previously faced criticism from Trump for his stance on the Iran war. On the plane to Paris, Pope Leo reaffirmed his commitment to press freedom, welcoming all media coverage of his visit.
As Pope Leo traveled through Paris, crowds lined the streets, waving flags and signs. Antoine Barxias-Casties, a Catholic passer-by, expressed optimism, noting the pope’s message of peace and hope.
In France, a secular nation with a 1905 law separating church and state, Catholic affiliation has declined post-World War II. According to INSEE, only 25% of French 18-to-49-year-olds identify as Catholic, down from 43% a decade ago, with just 8% attending worship regularly.
Pope Leo, who has prioritized AI risks during his papacy, is expected to address these concerns at UNESCO. In a recent Vatican speech, he acknowledged AI’s potential benefits but highlighted new security threats, echoing the call for global oversight. This visit reflects a commitment to peace, accountability, and justice, aligning with Micah 6:8’s call to act justly and love mercy.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
