Pope reminded Europe of the lessons of wars and the need for reconciliation between peoples

Pope Leo XIV on Monday, September 28, completed his four-day apostolic visit to France with a Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen in Metz. One of the central themes of the final day of the trip was reconciliation between peoples, peace and the future of Europe.

According to Le Figaro, during the last Mass of his visit, the pontiff emphasized the importance of reconciliation and the ability of former adversaries to overcome historical conflicts.

The choice of Metz to conclude the trip had symbolic significance. The city is located near the border with Germany, and the region has repeatedly been the scene of Franco-German conflicts. At the same time, Robert Schuman, one of the founders of European integration and a symbol of post-war Franco-German reconciliation, is closely associated with this part of France.

The concluding Mass was preceded by a series of events dedicated to peace and European unity. In the morning, Leo XIV held an interreligious meeting in Metz, where he stated that representatives of different religions should promote dialogue and peace, and that using God's name to justify violence or oppression is unacceptable.

Later, the pope spoke at the meeting "To the Sources of Europe for Peace and Unity" at the Robert Schuman Congress Centre. The pontiff recalled that European integration was formed after devastating wars and was the result of the willingness of former adversaries to seek reconciliation.

Leo XIV also spoke about ongoing armed conflicts and urged Europeans to preserve their ability to negotiate. According to him, in order to achieve peace, parties sometimes need to give up some of their initial positions and show political courage in dialogue.

French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as representatives of European countries and institutions, took part in the final day's events. Thus, the last stage of the pontiff's visit was structured not only as a religious event, but also as an address to Europe amid ongoing wars and international tensions.

The Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen was the last major event of the four-day journey. According to the official Vatican program, a farewell ceremony was planned at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport afterward, after which Leo XIV was to depart for Rome.

The apostolic visit to France lasted from September 25 to 28. The Pope visited Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes and Metz. In Paris, he met with French authorities, spoke at UNESCO and held a service on the Place de la Concorde, and in Lourdes he met with French bishops and pilgrims.