Pope Leons XIV says invoking God's name to justify violence is profanation

Pope Leo XIV said during an interreligious meeting in Metz, France, that using the name of God to justify violence or oppression is a profanation. Speaking at the Robert Schuman Congress Center on September 28, 2026, the pope told religious leaders that religious speech must constantly work to disarm hearts and words.

The pope described religions as guardians of life and urged leaders to take direct responsibility for their respective traditions. He also told Europe that its future lies in the harmony of differences rather than in uniformity.

The meeting in Metz marked the final day of the pope's apostolic journey through France. During his address, he encouraged followers to promote unity and peace by following the example of Robert Schuman, one of the founders of the European Union. Leo XIV stated that the greatness of a civilization is measured by how it protects and elevates the human person rather than by material success.