A mass that completely paralyzes the center of Paris, extremely expensive hotel rooms and train tickets, and a football stadium where no more space could be found within the shortest time: in France, the visit of Pope Leo XIV, which begins today, is being compared to the arrival of a rockstar.
Hundreds of thousands of people hope to catch a glimpse of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in the coming days. The French security services have significantly increased their deployment.
After Paris and the suburb Saint-Denis, the pope will also go to the pilgrimage site Lourdes, where he will among other things speak with abuse victims. Leo will conclude his visit on Monday in the city of Metz, with a pep talk to important European politicians.
Shrinking of the French Church
Next month marks five years since a special investigative commission released a devastating report, which shows that within the French Roman Catholic Church between 1950 and 2020 an estimated 216,000 minors were sexually abused by priests and other clergy.
The report caused a major shockwave and has left an important mark on the negative image many French people have of the Catholic Church. Only 6 percent of them regularly attend mass.
That is why it is remarkable that in recent years the number of converts has grown. With some surprise, the French bishops were able to report to the Vatican that last year 21,000 people, mostly young adults, had been baptized. It is a boost for the pope, although the total number of Catholics is still declining.
Faith and Politics
The papal visit also exposes the fault lines within the French Catholic Church. Like in the United States, it is strongly divided between a more progressive and a conservative current. On topics such as migration, inclusivity, women's rights, and homosexuality, the views differ greatly.
In the run-up to next year's presidential elections, it becomes clear that these fault lines also run along political lines. Newspaper Libération writes how ultra-conservative Catholic movements around the papal visit are explicitly trying to exert their influence. For example, during the youth vigil in a football stadium, a meter-high cross will hang, which comes from a traditionalist Catholic organization.
But from the beginning of his papacy, Leo has called for unity. By conveying his message of peace, reconciliation, and dialogue, he tries to extinguish the fire of polarization and to keep himself as a shepherd far from politics.
This was evident when the Vatican resolutely said no to President Emmanuel Macron's offer to receive the pope with military honors and even to award him a high distinction. Whereas Macron had a full state visit in mind, the pope wants to emphasize that aspect as little as possible.
Catholic Principles
As head of state, Leo will meet the president and deliver a speech to politicians and prominent members of society. It is expected that there, and possibly also at the pilgrimage site Lourdes, he will underline the church's positions on abortion and euthanasia.
In France, a law was recently passed that allows assisted dying under certain circumstances. Also, in 2024 the right to abortion was included in the constitution by parliament.
For the Vatican, these are difficult steps to accept, which do not facilitate relations with the French government.
A Boost for the UN and Europe
Nevertheless, this trip does have a political and especially motivating charge. In Paris, the pope will visit UNESCO, the UN organization for education, science, and culture. There, Leo can again call for constructive use of artificial intelligence, as he previously did in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.
The European Union also has a place in the program. As the final stage, the pope will go to Metz, the birthplace of Robert Schuman, founder of united Europe and very devout Catholic. Currently, a church procedure is underway to beatify him.
At a congress titled 'At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity,' Leo has the opportunity to impress upon leading European politicians that Europe must regroup to play a more important role on the way to a new world order. In this way, the American pope seems, like Canadian Prime Minister Carney, to want to develop into an important ally for the old continent.