In France, Pope Leo denounces ‘scourge of war’ in the Middle East

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PARIS (RNS) – Peace and artificial intelligence were the themes of Pope Leo XIV’s first day in Paris, where he called for disarmament and a ban on nuclear weapons, while urging an ethical approach to scientific development.

In an address to French diplomats and politicians at the Élysée Palace on Friday (Sept. 25), Leo spoke about the “scourge of war” in the Middle East. “We cannot remain indifferent in the face of their pain, which offends human dignity and cries out to God for justice,” the pope said.

“The gravity of these situations must challenge us and ought to summon each of us, wherever we find ourselves, to a genuine conversion of heart and a change of attitude,” he added.

Leo is visiting France and the UNESCO headquarters, in Paris, from Sept. 25-28. He plans to visit politicians and church representatives, the healing shrine at Lourdes and give an address in Metz.

The pope’s comments on Friday came days after French President Emmanuel Macron gave a fiery speech at the United Nations on Tuesday (Sept. 22), describing the situation in Gaza as “spectacle that should shame us…