After 18 Years, Pope Leo XIV Faces French Secularism and Addresses Europe

After 18 years since the last official papal visit to France, Pope Leo XIV arrives in a country that welcomes him not only as the head of the Catholic Church but also as a figure capable of addressing a society living between a profound Christian legacy and a firmly entrenched secular system.

Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday for his first official visit as Supreme Pontiff in 18 years to this European nation.

Between Paris, Lyon, and Metz, nearly one million people are expected to hear the American pope whose French pilgrimage carries messages extending beyond religious rituals to issues concerning the Church, society, and Europe.

This visit, the first since Pope Benedict XVI’s 2008 trip, comes amid several pressing questions: "How will Leo XIV navigate French secularism? What message will he deliver on issues such as abortion and euthanasia? And will Metz become an opportunity to present his vision for Europe’s future and identity?"

"A Hunger for Spirituality" in France

The French Church believes the enthusiasm for welcoming Pope Leo XIV is not solely due to the 18-year absence of official papal visits.

Cardinal Jean-Marc Avelin, president of the French Bishops’ Conference, told newspaper Le Figaro that there is a "hunger for spirituality" in France, pointing to 21,386 adult and adolescent baptisms recorded in 2026.

Avelin notes a shift in youth’s relationship with religion; rather than the traditional path from church to personal faith discovery, some now begin with a personal spiritual experience before turning to the institutional Church.

These signs emerge at a time when the French Church faces institutional challenges, including declining numbers of priests and rising average age, alongside the lasting impact of the sexual abuse crisis.

Abortion and "Euthanasia"

The visit also carries background tensions between the Church and French authorities over social and ethical issues, particularly "abortion and euthanasia." France has enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution and passed a law permitting assisted dying, positions strongly opposed by the Catholic Church.

Leo XIV is expected to reaffirm the Church’s stance on these matters during his visit, while also addressing Catholic education and the relationship between religious institutions and public administration.

Yet these disagreements do not turn the visit into a political confrontation—papal trips typically maintain a spiritual, diplomatic, and social character.

Notre-Dame: A Protocol Dispute

Before the pope’s arrival, arrangements for the "Evening Prayer" at Notre-Dame Cathedral sparked controversy after reports claimed he rejected President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to include a televised segment featuring artisans involved in the cathedral’s reconstruction.

However, Le Figaro clarified the issue relates to protocol and the nature of the meeting, not an angry refusal by the pope.

The event is intended for clergy reception, a religious address, and leading the evening prayer, followed by the pope’s move to Stade de France to meet youth.

The newspaper also denied claims that Leo XIV refused a formal dinner at the Élysée Palace, noting such invitations are not customary in papal visits.

Nevertheless, Macron’s circle announced the president would be absent from the major Mass, raising questions about whether protocol disputes affected the visit—though no definitive evidence links the two.

Metz: A Message to Europe

Metz holds special significance as it transcends the French context. The city is associated with Robert Schuman, one of the architects of Franco-German reconciliation and a founding figure of the European project.

Metz is expected to host a major European address, especially as Leo XIV has previously warned against "excessive nationalism" and the decline of international multilateralism, criticizing diplomacy’s shift from dialogue to "diplomacy of force," stating: "War is back in fashion."

He has also spoken about Europe’s Judeo-Christian roots, emphasizing that reviving these roots does not mean returning to a past religious era, but using them to strengthen European cooperation and integration.

What Does Leo XIV Want from France?

According to French newspaper Le Figaro, from the Vatican’s perspective, the visit is not merely a display of Catholic presence in a nation with a long Christian history. The core message lies in how to present faith within a secular, pluralistic society, while maintaining the Church’s role in public discourse without transforming it into a political project.

In Paris and Lyon, the pope will focus on the Church, believers, and the spiritual dimension, while Metz offers him the chance to expand his message toward Europe and the future of its political and cultural project.

Between these stops, Leo XIV seeks to define his own style of leading the Church: a religious presence in the public sphere, defense of its moral and social vision, and a European message rooted in dialogue and cooperation—not in resurrecting a bygone religious model.

Le Figaro wonders whether Leo XIV will renew the powerful appeal made by John Paul II to Europe in 1982 in Santiago de Compostela, when he said: "Old Europe, return to yourself. Be yourself. Discover your roots. Revive your origins!"