Pope Leo XIV holds in-flight press conference on return from France

Pope Leo XIV addressed journalists during a press conference on the flight from Metz, France, to Rome on September 28, 2026. During the meeting, the pope discussed his recent four-day trip to France, which he described as being filled with many blessings.

Regarding sexual abuse, the pope spoke about a meeting he held the previous day in Lourdes with a group of victims. He stated that the Church has a particular responsibility to accompany survivors and help them through healing processes by recognizing the pain caused by abuse. He described sexual abuse as a human problem that carries an additional dimension when it occurs within the Church because it wounds or destroys the faith of those involved.

The pope also addressed the topic of secularism, clarifying that when the Church defends life or discusses social doctrine, it is applying the Gospel to human life rather than entering politics. He noted that his primary purpose for visiting France was to preach the Gospel. Other topics covered during the conference included artificial intelligence, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and rearmament.