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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Vatican Journey to France

Pope Leo XIV returns from France

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV addressed journalists during his return flight from France to Rome on September 28, 2026, reflecting on his four-day apostolic journey and discussing global conflicts.

During the flight from Metz, the pope described his visit as an intense program filled with blessings. He specifically noted his time in Lourdes, where he accompanied sick and suffering people, stating that the experience showed how God's grace can restore dignity to the elderly, the sick, and those marginalized by society. He also mentioned his goal to encourage young people, noting a large gathering of 80,000 youth at a stadium.

Regarding international relations, Pope Leo XIV called for Russia and Ukraine to engage in dialogue to resolve their conflict. He criticized the increase in military spending, suggesting that the billions of dollars used to fund the arms industry could instead be used to combat world hunger, unemployment, and housing crises. He stated that the Church will continue to invite leaders to sit at a table to seek solutions through conversation.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

3 sources16 reports9 languages

Read it in Tiếng Việt · Polski · Italiano · Français · Português · العربية · Hrvatski · Shqip · 한국어

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:46 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  2. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  3. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  4. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  5. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  7. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  8. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  9. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  10. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  11. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Saturday 3 October

Pope Leo XIV holds press conference on flight from France to Rome

Earlier version, Saturday 3 October

Pope Leo XIV holds press conference on flight back from France

Earlier version, Saturday 3 October

Pope Leo XIV calls for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine

Earlier version, Friday 2 October

Pope Leo XIV holds press conference on flight back to Rome

Earlier version, Thursday 1 October

Pope Leo XIV holds press conference on return flight from France

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Sep 28, 3:58 PM Vatican News Tiếng Việt Họp báo của Đức Thánh Cha trên máy bay sau chuyến tông du Pháp
  2. Sep 28, 6:49 PM Diocese of Ðà Nang Tiếng Việt Họp báo của Đức Thánh Cha trên máy bay sau chuyến tông du Pháp
  3. Sep 28, 6:24 PM Diocese of Bà Ria Tiếng Việt Họp báo của Đức Thánh Cha trên máy bay sau chuyến tông du Pháp
  4. Sep 28, 11:32 PM Stacja7 Polski Konferencja prasowa w samolocie. Papież odpowiadał na pytania o Francję, skandale seksualne i wojnę
  5. Sep 28, 10:30 AM The Holy See Italiano Viaggio Apostolico in Francia: Conferenza Stampa durante il volo diretto a Roma (28 settembre 2026)
  6. Sep 28, 10:30 AM The Holy See Français Voyage apostolique en France : Conférence de presse lors du vol de retour Metz-Rome (28 septembre 2026)
  7. Sep 28, 10:30 AM The Holy See Polski Podróż apostolska do Francji: Konferencja prasowa Ojca Świętego Leona XIV podczas lotu powrotnego (28 września 2026 r.)
  8. Sep 28, 1:00 PM Vatican News Italiano Il Papa: guerre senza senso, Paesi come Russia e Ucraina si siedano a dialogare
  9. Sep 28, 1:04 PM Vatican News Português Papa: guerras sem sentido, países como Rússia e Ucrânia devem sentar-se para dialogar
  10. Sep 29, 4:16 AM Vatican News Polski Leon XIV o Rosji i Ukrainie: nie przestaniemy wzywać do dialogu
  11. Sep 29, 3:10 AM Voz Portucalense Português Papa: guerras sem sentido, países como Rússia e Ucrânia devem sentar-se para dialogar
  12. Sep 29, 3:58 AM Vatican News العربية البابا: حروب بلا معنى، وعلى دول مثل روسيا وأوكرانيا أن تجلس إلى طاولة الحوار
  13. Sep 29, 5:13 AM Vatican News Hrvatski Papa: Ratovi su besmisleni; zemlje poput Rusije i Ukrajine trebaju stati i razgovarati
  14. Sep 28, 9:00 PM Korazym.org Italiano Il Papa invita i Paesi in guerra a dialogare
  15. Sep 28, 11:59 PM Vatican News Shqip Papa: luftëra pa kuptim, vende si Rusia dhe Ukraina të ulen e të dialogojnë
  16. Sep 30, 1:48 AM Vatican News 한국어 교황 “무의미한 전쟁... 러시아와 우크라이나 같은 국가들이 대화의 장으로 나와야”

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:46 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  2. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  3. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  4. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  5. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  7. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  8. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  9. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  10. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  11. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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