Pope Leo XIV was met by hundreds of thousands of cheering people during his visit to France, according to WELT. The trip included a stop in Lourdes, where the pope made a case for the protection of life, Vatican News reported. He also delivered a speech on Europe in Metz, according to Deutschlandfunk.
Coverage of the visit focused heavily on the pope's remarks about assisted dying in France. DIE ZEIT reported that Leo XIV criticized the practice, and derstandard.de noted that he drew large crowds while not holding back on criticism.
The reporting indicates the visit combined public appearances with direct commentary on a contested ethical question in the host country. Vatican News framed the Lourdes stop as an appeal on behalf of life, while the German outlets emphasized the pope's willingness to address a sensitive domestic debate rather than limit himself to ceremonial remarks.
The available reports do not include the full text of the pope's speeches, the exact size of the crowds, or the specific wording of his comments on assisted dying. They also do not detail how French officials or the public responded to his criticism.
Further coverage is expected to clarify the pope's exact arguments and any reaction from French political and church figures.
