The four-day visit, running from September 25 to 28, has been built around a consistent strategy: prioritize peace, consolidate dialogue and remind Europe of the foundations that hold it together.
Metz: A Joint Call for Peace and European Unity
The Pope traveled to Metz, in northeastern France, from Lourdes this morning and went straight into an interreligious meeting. He asked participating religious leaders to assume a firm commitment to peace, and to translate it into what they say to their communities.
His message also looked beyond the room. He called on Europeans to remember the roots of unity, dialogue and integration that shaped the continent, at a moment of geopolitical tension across the region. The framing was forward-looking: the process of building peace, he indicated, depends on the constant effort of institutions and faith communities acting in alignment.
The Journey So Far: Paris and Lourdes
The visit opened in Paris on September 25 and 26, a stage devoted to state authorities, young people and civil society. Across those meetings, the Pope's central theme was international fraternity and the urgency of peace amid global conflict. Institutional contacts in the French capital, including engagements with representatives of the French Presidency, set the diplomatic scope of the trip.
From September 26 to 27, the itinerary shifted to Lourdes, the spiritual and pastoral core of the journey. Attention turned to the sick and vulnerable, with collective prayer at the Massabielle Grotto, the site managed by the Sanctuaires Notre-Dame de Lourdes. The stop added a human dimension to the diplomatic messaging of Paris, pairing calls for peace between nations with care for individuals.
What Remains on the Schedule Today
Two events complete the program, according to the itinerary shared with the editorial desk:
- 4:00 p.m. (France time): Mass with local faithful at Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Metz, the central liturgical event of the day and the trip's last major public celebration. Local arrangements and pastoral coordination are handled through the Diocese of Metz.
- Approximately 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.: Farewell ceremony at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport, followed by the official flight back to the Vatican.
The closing sequence is deliberately balanced: an interfaith gathering in the morning, a Catholic community celebration in the afternoon and a formal departure at dusk.
Why the Trip Matters
Taken together, the itinerary reflects a clear vision. Paris addressed the political sphere, Lourdes the spiritual and social one, and Metz the shared responsibility of religious leaders and European societies. The three stops were coordinated around a single thread: peace requires cooperation between institutions, faith communities and citizens.
The visit's positive impact will be measured in what follows. Church leaders and civil authorities now have a set of focus points to carry forward, chiefly the appeal for interreligious dialogue and the reminder that Europe's stability rests on integration and mutual respect.
The complete program, texts and official communications of the journey are published by the Holy See.
