Laure Valentin/European Correspondent.
Speaking at the Elysée, the pontiff set the tone for his first visit to France; dialogue with the Republic, warnings over AI and a call for peace, while acknowledging ongoing disagreements.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV gave the French leader an opportunity to revisit the fundamental principles that shape dialogue between the state and religions, while addressing the upheavals confronting contemporary societies.
In his speech, Macron placed the encounter within the framework of the traditional dialogue between France and the Holy See, while recalling the principles of the Republic.
The French president placed particular emphasis on secularism, presented not as a way of distancing society from religion, but as the framework that guarantees freedom of conscience and enables everyone to express themselves.
The meeting also comes as both interlocutors identify artificial intelligence as one of the major challenges of our time. The Élysée stresses that climate and AI were at the top of the global issues discussed during the pair’s talks.
On the international stage, Emmanuel Macron defended an engaged France, standing for “peace, multilateralism and respect for international law.”
“Every life is worth the same, and all peoples must be defended,” said the French leader, referring to the raging wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, which he believes are central to the concerns of both Paris and the Vatican.
He also affirmed that France stands “on the side of peace, active multilateralism, respect for international law and the United Nations Charter.”
‘AI, peace and human dignity’
In his address, the pontiff placed human dignity at the heart of his message.
Speaking to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Thursday, Leo XIV had already warned of the risks linked to artificial intelligence, pursuing a reflection that has become one of the hallmarks of his pontificate.
He warned in particular against a technology liable to be used “for purposes of surveillance, manipulation and discrimination”, while calling for technological progress to remain subject to human responsibility.
“The greater our power to transform the world, the greater must be our ability to discern what truly serves human dignity,” he said.
The Pope also assigned France a particular responsibility in a world marked by wars and tensions, especially within Europe.
“Faced with the sound of marching boots and the multifaceted crises shaking our world, France has the vocation to remain a tireless artisan of peace and multilateralism,” he said.
He further challenged the idea that nuclear weapons constitute a security guarantee, calling for a break in the arms race and for a deeper emphasis to be placed on dialogue and justice.
On secularism, Leo XIV argued for a concept that he sees as compatible with the presence of religious convictions in the public sphere.
“True secularism does not consist in excluding religion from the public space,” said the Head of the Catholic Church, as he addressed bioethical issues on which the Vatican is at odds with developments in France.
He slammed Paris’ recently adopted and controversial assisted death bill, and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting every human life. He also opposed surrogacy, in a speech whose guiding thread was the defence of human dignity.
After the meeting at the Élysée, Pope Leo XIV visited the UNESCO headquarters in the French capital, where he will deliver an address on artificial intelligence, youth, peace and interreligious dialogue.
He is then due to celebrate vespers at Notre-Dame cathedral before leading a prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France.
On Saturday, the Pope will visit the Bakhita House, dedicated to support and social integration, before a Mass at Place de la Concorde ahead of his departure for Lourdes. There, he will celebrate Mass on Sunday and meet bishops, locals and the faithful.
Finally, on Monday Leo XIV will travel to Metz for an interreligious meeting and a session devoted to the “roots of Europe for peace and unity”, before a final Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral.
