Pope Leo XIV preaches peace to 700,000 in Paris, meets migrants ahead of Lourdes abuse victim talks

Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air mass for approximately 700,000 faithful at Paris' Place de la Concorde on September 26, 2026, urging believers to "live together in dignity and peace" during his France visit. The pontiff earlier met with migrants at Maison Bakhita refugee support center, stressing women's role in building a "civilisation of love."

The mass came amid France's political tensions, with far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella present as they eye presidential ambitions in the upcoming April-May election. President Emmanuel Macron was represented by his wife Brigitte, underscoring the visit's intersection with secular politics in a country where only 5% attend Catholic services regularly.

After Paris, Pope Leo will travel to Lourdes to meet seven victims of clerical sex abuse, following a 2021 inquiry that found clergy or church members abused about 330,000 minors in France over seven decades. This legacy of abuse echoes similar challenges facing religious institutions globally, including in Nigeria.

For Nigeria's substantial Catholic population navigating its own religious diversity and migration realities, the pope's message of peaceful coexistence and accountability offers relevant reflection. His emphasis on migrant dignity and institutional responsibility speaks directly to ongoing national conversations about unity, justice, and healing in Africa's most populous nation.

What resonance will the pope's call for dignity and peace find in Nigeria's current social climate, and how might his emphasis on migrant welcome and abuse accountability shape faith-based responses to local challenges?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/26/pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-mass-before-700000-faithful-in-paris/