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Pope Leo XIV will conclude his four-day apostolic journey to France on Monday with a visit to the northeastern city of Metz, where he is scheduled to celebrate Mass at the city's Gothic cathedral and deliver a major speech on the future of European integration. The address is expected to carry significant symbolic weight, coming from a border region that has repeatedly shifted between French and German control across centuries of conflict.
The final leg of the trip follows three days of remarkable public enthusiasm in Paris and Lourdes, where the Vatican estimates more than 1.3 million people turned out to see the pontiff between Friday and Sunday. The visit marks the first official papal trip to France in nearly two decades, and it has generated a level of religious fervour rarely seen in a country defined by its strict constitutional secularism.
Metz, a city of roughly 120,000 residents, holds particular resonance for the European project. It is closely associated with Robert Schuman, the French statesman widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of the European Union, who is buried just outside the city. Schuman's 1950 declaration, which proposed pooling coal and steel production among European nations, is considered the foundational moment of what would eventually become the EU.
The timing of the pope's address is politically charged in more ways than one. It comes seven months before French voters head to the polls to choose a successor to President Emmanuel Macron, with eurosceptic and anti-immigration far-right forces seeking power. Macron is also expected to speak at the event, and a handful of European heads of state and government are expected to attend, underscoring the geopolitical significance of the occasion.
Pope Leo has consistently framed Europe as a necessary counterweight to the world's major powers, and he has repeatedly called on the European Union to overcome internal tensions and rediscover unity, particularly in pursuit of peace in Ukraine and beyond. His message in Metz is likely to reinforce that vision at a moment when the bloc faces pressure from nationalist movements and shifting global alliances.
The choice of Metz as the venue is deliberate. Archbishop Philippe Ballot of Metz noted that the city carries strong symbolic significance, shaped as it has been by "three wars, including two world wars." The region's contested history between France and Germany makes it a fitting backdrop for a papal appeal for reconciliation and integration.
Local preparations for the visit have been extensive. A thorough security sweep was conducted on the eve of the pope's arrival, including deminers abseiling down the facade of St. Stephen's Cathedral, a jewel of Gothic architecture where the Mass will take place. The pope is also scheduled to ride his open-top popemobile through the city's streets, allowing residents to catch a glimpse of him.
The scale of the operation has not gone unnoticed by residents. "The scale of the preparations is enormous," said Anne Padoreck, a local resident. Hotels in Metz are fully booked, and restaurants have reported a surge in reservations, with the city buzzing with anticipation.
Throughout his journey, the pope has projected a warm and approachable image, readily engaging with crowds and blessing children and people with disabilities. "He seems increasingly approachable, which is quite rare for a pope," said Catherine Ernst, a volunteer from Strasbourg, reflecting a sentiment shared by many who have followed the visit.
Beyond his meetings with the faithful, Leo has used the trip to advance the core priorities of his pontificate. He has urged peace and coexistence, warning against the loss of humanity in what he described as a "paradise of machines" driven by the advance of artificial intelligence. At the Elysée Palace on Friday, he called on France to remain a champion of peace, and during a meeting with migrants on Saturday, he stressed that it is possible to "live together in dignity and peace."
The pope's visit has also confronted the Catholic Church's most painful contemporary crisis. In Lourdes on Sunday, he met with victims of clerical sexual abuse and urged French bishops to combat what he called a "scourge." The encounter underscored his determination to address the legacy of abuse that has shaken the institution's credibility in France and across the world.
The Paris leg of the trip provided the visual highlight of the visit. On Saturday, the pope travelled along the Champs-Elysées in his popemobile before celebrating an open-air Mass for approximately 800,000 people in central Paris, transforming the tightly secured heart of the capital into a vast place of worship. The images of the crowds underscored the enduring pull of the papacy in a country where regular church attendance has declined sharply in recent decades.
The strong turnout in Paris and Lourdes has surprised some observers, given France's secular tradition and the declining influence of organised religion in public life. Yet the enthusiasm also reflects a broader spiritual hunger that transcends institutional affiliation, as well as curiosity about a pope who has sought to engage directly with ordinary people rather than remaining remote.
As Leo prepares to address the future of Europe from a city that has known both division and reconciliation, his words will be closely parsed by European leaders, voters, and the faithful alike. The speech will likely echo his past appeals for solidarity and peace, framing European integration not merely as a political project but as a moral one rooted in the continent's shared history.
For Metz, the visit represents a moment of unusual international attention and a chance to showcase its heritage and its role in the story of European unity. For the pope, it offers a final opportunity on this trip to press his case that a united Europe can serve as a force for peace in a fractious world, just months before French voters render their own verdict on the direction of their country and the continent.
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