Pope Leo XIV Arrives in France for Historic Four-Day Visit Amid Assisted Dying and Abuse Debates

Pope Leo XIV has traveled to France for the first official papal visit to the nation in 18 years. Beginning in Paris on Friday, the four-day itinerary includes a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, followed by an address to French officials and civil society members.

As the first American pope, Leo brings a core message focused on human dignity. This message comes at a crucial time as the Catholic Church in France navigates a recently passed assisted dying law and addresses the enduring consequences of clerical sexual abuse.

Following his meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, the pontiff is scheduled to speak at UNESCO, participate in a service at Notre-Dame Cathedral, and take part in a youth vigil at the Stade de France. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, who leads the French bishops’ conference, emphasized that defending the dignity of human life will be central to the pope's message.

In August, France implemented legislation granting a right to assisted dying under strict conditions for adults facing serious and incurable medical conditions. While this policy encountered intense resistance from the Catholic Church—which maintains that human life deserves protection from conception to natural death—Martin Dumont, secretary-general of a French religion research institute, stated to the AFP news agency that a confrontational approach from the pope would be unexpected.

On Sunday, Leo is scheduled to meet with seven survivors of clerical sexual abuse in Lourdes. A significant independent investigation released in 2021 calculated that approximately 330,000 individuals suffered abuse as minors at the hands of clergy or associated personnel within the French Catholic Church across a span of seven decades.

Retired French Bishop Marc Stenger shared with the Reuters news agency that these abuse scandals have severely wounded the church and undermined its credibility. Despite recent safeguarding protocols and compensation efforts, survivors continue demanding increased accountability from church leadership.

The visit takes place while the Catholic Church attempts to maintain its presence in a nation characterized by a strong tradition of secularism and a reduction in church influence over public affairs. Nonetheless, the pope's itinerary reaches beyond domestic French discussions. Pope Leo will additionally tour a Paris center that aids migrants, deliver remarks concerning artificial intelligence, and wrap up his journey in Metz with a discussion centered on the promotion of peace and unity throughout Europe.