[Phone] Pope Leo XIV is conducting a four-day visit to France during which European democracy, multiculturalism and freedom of the press are publicly praised on numerous occasions, in contrast to the policy orientation of United States President Trump. This is yet another departure from the White House on major issues since Leo XIV became Pope.
This trip to France was launched on Friday, when Leo XIV met with French President Emmanuel Marlon. On the second day of the visit, on Saturday, the Pope held a mass open mass in Place de la Concorde, attended by an estimated 700,000 people. Prior to the beginning of the mass, the Pope travelled in a convertible Pope's car, down the Champs-Elyser Boulevard, waving his hand at the crowd along the way, with the participation of a number of high-ranking French dignitaries. In his message of Mass, Leo XIV called upon Catholics not to take faith for themselves, but to "spare it and make it a new life for those you meet". He paid special tribute to the "zeal, energy and dedication" of young people, calling them "the church of today".
During this trip, Leo XIV sent a different policy message from the Trump Government on several occasions. In many media reports, the Pope clearly praised European democracy and multiculturalism in his speech. Against the backdrop of the continued rise of right-wing forces in Europe, this statement is highly realistic. It has been reported that the Pope, in referring to the history of the United States tradition of welcoming immigrants, in practice constitutes an implicit criticism of the Trump immigration policy. In another speech on the occasion of the opening of the trip to France, the Pope also praised freedom of the press and warned that a "manager paradise" could weaken humanity — widely interpreted as a concern for the ethical challenges posed by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. The artist JR (JR) publicly praised the Pope ' s approach to artificial intelligence and interpersonal relations.
In addition to political statements, Leo XIV's trip covered a number of religious and social issues. He commended the Catholic Outreach Society for its contribution to bringing the Christian faith into remote communities, the Special Olympics athletes and the example of Peter Frasati. He also paid tribute to the monarchs who had spent their whole lives in Maryland State in the years of World War II, as well as to the Catholics who had led the Church in a "new direction".
At the same time, an important religious event is advancing within the United States. The festivities of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a United States television preacher, are scheduled to take place on Thursday in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, as the first step towards a sacred object. In his regular public reception this Wednesday at St. Peter's Square, Leo XIV paid special tribute to the fellow Illinois cleric, calling him "an inspiring example", and called upon the English-speaking pilgrims to use Shane as an example of spreading their faith "with joyful enthusiasm".
Shane passed away in 1979 and, in the 1950s, with the television programme Life is Worth Living, pioneered a television sermon, wearing robes and soft hats, standing on the blackboard to teach ethics and religion to millions of American families. His blessing was in vain: Pope Francis had confirmed the miracle associated with Shaundai's prayers as early as 2019, when a ceremony was scheduled to take place in Pioria, Illinois, in Shean's hometown. Less than three weeks ago, however, the Vatican abruptly postponed the ceremony in order to investigate the dispute over the treatment of suspected clerics during Shane ' s time as Bishop. Investigations did not result in misconduct. After a six-year delay, the Vatican approved Thursday's blessing ceremony in February this year, which was presided over by the Vatican's Chief Fortune Officer, the Filipino Luis Tagle.
The follow-up to this trip to France also deserves attention. On Saturday evening, the Pope flew to Lourdes, a south-western French city, where 150,000 people had registered for Sunday mass. Monday, the Pope will travel to the north-eastern city of Metz to pay tribute to Robert Schuman, one of the founders of the European Union. Shumann is a devout Catholic and one of the core founders of the European Union and is currently at the stage of a holy candidate.
On the whole, this trip to France by Pope Leo XIV, through intensive public statements, systematically sends a message of support for European integration, multiculturalism and freedom of the press. On the subject of immigration policy, artificial intelligence ethics and religious freedom, there was a marked difference between his statement and the current route in Washington. Next, international public opinion will follow closely whether his tribute to Robert Schumann in Mes on Monday further reinforces this policy orientation and how the relationship between the Vatican and the White House will evolve.