Pope Leo XIV reflects on his apostolic journey to France

Pope Leo XIV described his recent apostolic journey to France as a journey of rebirth during a general audience on Wednesday. Reflecting on his travels, the Pope used the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris as a symbol for the trip, noting that the cathedral's restoration demonstrated how the Church, the state, and civil society can collaborate for the common good.

The Pope stated that the cathedral, which suffered a major fire seven years ago, now stands more radiant than before. He suggested that the disaster triggered positive spiritual and practical reactions, serving as a model for how institutions can work together based on the dignity of the human person. He shared this message with authorities and members of UNESCO.

During the same audience, the Pope made an appeal regarding the conflict in Tigrai, stating that armed conflict never resolves problems.