Recalling key moments from his Apostolic Journey to France during his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the trip as a powerful symbol of rebirth. Summarizing his visits to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, the Pope highlighted the restoration of Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral as a guiding light for the future of both the Church and society.
Celebrating Vespers at Notre-Dame, which was rebuilt following a devastating 2019 fire, Pope Leo praised the reconstruction as a model of collaboration between the Church, the State, public institutions, and civil society. He emphasized that this “synergy for the common good” should serve as a blueprint for political, economic, and social leaders globally, with the dignity of the human person as its fundamental core.
Connecting the cathedral service to a prayer vigil with 80,000 young people at the Stade de France, the Pope noted that while the locations differed, they shared a spiritual unity. He observed that the Church is defined not by stone and cement, but by living people, describing the gathering of youth as a vibrant sign of hope characterized by deep faith and a search for truth and love.
Closing his reflection, Pope Leo pointed to his visit to Maison Bakhita, a welcome center for migrants in Paris, as another manifestation of this hope. He praised the volunteers and workers there for their daily dedication to serving vulnerable individuals and upholding human dignity through practical love and solidarity.