Vatican

Pope Leo XIV addresses authorities at Élysée Palace

Catholic IntelligenceSep 25, 2026Updated Sep 25, 6:26 AM PT1 min read

Pope Leo XIV addressed French authorities, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Friday, September 25, 2026. During this first speech of his apostolic journey to France, the pope urged the nation to act as a tireless architect of peace and multilateralism within Europe.

The pope spoke about the necessity of dialogue and diplomacy to address global crises and the arms race. He called for an unarmed peace and encouraged France and Europe to remain active in peacebuilding efforts rather than resigning to war.

Addressing technological and social issues, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of placing human dignity at the center of progress. He warned against the risks of artificial intelligence becoming a science without ethics and urged that the person remain the priority amidst technical advances.

Regarding the relationship between the state and religion, the pope described an authentic secularism as one that fosters healthy cooperation between the state and religious institutions to serve society. He also spoke on the importance of religious freedom and caring for the most vulnerable.

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