Wrapping up France visit, Pope Leo calls on Europe to choose reconciliation over division

Pope Leo XIV called on people to choose reconciliation and peace over revenge and retaliation during a Mass at the Metz Cathedral on Sept. 28. Speaking to crowds in France on the final day of a four-day visit, the Pope addressed the history of the region being torn apart by internal conflicts. He stated that seeking forgiveness and walking together are not signs of weakness or concessions to evil.

The Mass concluded the Pope's four-day trip to France. During his homily, he told those living in lands marked by past wars that those who seek revenge are not stronger than those who forgive. He also noted that refusing to yield or walking away from challenges does not make a person stronger than someone who chooses to seek reconciliation. Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Metz to watch the Pope pass by in his Popemobile.