Pope Leo ends France trip in Metz, spotlighting Schuman and EU unity

Loading the video No Comment Video. Pope Leo ends France trip in Metz, spotlighting Schuman and EU unity Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 28/09/2026 - 23:37 GMT+2 Pope Leo XIV ended his four-day visit to France in Metz on Monday by urging Europe to build on its Christian heritage and culture of dialogue rather than succumb to what he called the “desire for domination” behind many of today’s wars. The pontiff chose Metz, a city long shaped by Europe’s shifting borders and conflicts, to honour Robert Schuman, the French Catholic statesman who became one of the architects of European integration after the Second World War. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT At a gathering titled “At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity”, Leo met European leaders and senior figures including confirmed Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and former European Commission president Jean‑Claude Juncker. Macron, who had originally been scheduled to attend only Leo’s morning speech, also joined the Mass at Saint‑Étienne Cathedral and the official farewell at the airport after rearranging his schedule. Outside the cathedral, crowds gathered hours before the service, with banners and rosaries visible among the faithful. Families welcomed the pope in an atmosphere that was both festive and devotional. The Metz visit capped a journey that had already drawn large crowds. The Vatican said around 800,000 people attended Leo’s outdoor Mass in Paris, while tens of thousands joined the pope for Lourdes’ famous candlelit procession. The pontiff then left France after a farewell ceremony with Macron at Metz‑Nancy‑Lorraine airport. Pope Leo XIV France Metz Robert Schumann Peace Europe Top stories Now playing Next Pope Leo ends France trip in Metz, spotlighting Schuman and EU unity Now playing Next London’s Southwark Bridge turns into woolly parade at annual Sheep Drive charity event Now playing Next Ukraine: Kharkiv apartment block hit by Russian strike, 25 injured Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | September 28th, 2026 – Evening Now playing Next SpaceX’s Starship reaches orbit for the first time Now playing Next Tigray rebels push into Afar as Ethiopia blames neighbours Now playing Next Jet ski rider cruises through flooded streets of Bangkok Now playing Next Did Denmark play 'Send in the Clowns' before US-Greenland deal? Now playing Next Etna erupts again: chaos at Catania airport, risk of higher air fares Now playing Next How neutral should Switzerland be? Voters deliver decisive verdict Now playing Next Russian foreign minister rejects Berlin's call to abandon escalation Now playing Next Five arrested near US air base as police probe possible Iran link Now playing Next Pope Leo XIV wraps up four-day France visit in the city of Metz Now playing Next KIDS Act: Do Europeans support banning social media for children? Now playing Next Russia strikes Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences, killing at least one person Now playing Next Latvia is committed to fibre optics: it exports more than 90% of its production ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Bangkok streets turn to canals as days of heavy rain bring citywide flooding No Comment Ukraine says Russian drones kill 14, hit Kyiv and Odesa infrastructure No Comment Pope joins pilgrims in Lourdes candlelit rosary as 150,000 attend mass No Comment Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis Europe News Pope Leo urges Europe to defend multilateralism as global order crumbles Europe News Macron urges Europe to resist the ‘return of nationalisms’ Culture news 'Major breakthrough': Ancient wall discovery points to origins of first Paris settlement Europe News Madrid protesters vow to maintain pressure on Sánchez government against rising cost of housing Europe Today Lithuania needs 'NATO response' to Russian escalation, ex-minister says Europe News Hungarian parliament lifts immunity of PM and Orbán-era ministers in separate criminal cases Europe News EU ministers plan hybrid threat response amid warnings of Russian sabotage The Cube Fact check: Did Denmark play 'Send in the Clowns' song before signing US-Greenland security deal? ADVERTISEMENT Europe News Protesters camp in Madrid as housing crisis sparks anger Europe in Motion How successful is Europe at closing the gender gap between men and women? Europe News ‘Truly special’: worshippers react to Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Lourdes Europe News Trump 'surprised' as UK releases RAF Fairford suspects on bail Culture news MTV VMA 2026: Taylor Swift makes history again as female artist take top honours Europe News France's far-right National Rally gains ground in Senate and forms group for first time Europe Today Europe Today: EU ministers meet on Ukraine aid as Trump rejects Iran's Hormuz deal Health news The sea full of diclofenac — how researchers are trying to cut pharmaceutical pollution in the Baltic Sea ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT