Pope Leo XIV visits Maison Bakhita in Paris

Pope Leo XIV visited Maison Bakhita, a center for social integration and accompaniment in Paris, on September 26, 2026. During the second day of his trip to France, the pope praised the center for showing how people can live together with dignity and peace.

The pope thanked the Archdiocese of Paris, the Scalabrinian Sisters, and the volunteers and staff who provide support, training, and friendship to those at the center. He noted that the center's name, which refers to Saint Bakhita, highlights the essential role women play in building a civilization of love to counter loneliness in cities.

In his address, the pope stated that no person is so poor that they have nothing to give, and no person is so rich that they have nothing to receive. He described caring for the poor and overlooked as a specific expression of Christian love rather than a sociological category. He also said that history is shaped by those who create space for others, build trust, and encourage life.