Pope Leo XIV visits France amid discussions on religious freedom

Pope Leo XIV’s recent pastoral visit to France has drawn significant attention, with reports indicating that over 1,300,000 faithful gathered at major sites including the Place de la Concorde in Paris, Lourdes, and the Stade de France. The scale of these gatherings has prompted discussions regarding the state of Christianity and secularization in Europe.

During his addresses at locations such as the Élysée Palace, UNESCO, and Metz, the Pope discussed the concept of ‘just laïcité’ (just secularism). He argued that true secularism should not exclude religion from the public sphere but should instead utilize it as an educational resource. His remarks focused on religious freedom as the right to believe or not believe within legal limits, emphasizing the importance of dialogue between individuals of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.