Pope Leo XIV calls for missionary renewal in Notre Dame

Pope Leo XIV called on bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and seminarians in France to pursue missionary renewal during evening prayers at the rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral. Speaking at the Paris cathedral, the pope urged the French Church to become a living community that remains close to people and open to the world rather than retreating from modern complexities.

The pope suggested that the Church should learn from the reconstruction of the cathedral to rebuild itself as a community that welcomes those on the peripheries, including foreigners and those far from the faith. He noted that the restoration process demonstrated a society's ability to rebuild common heritage and created a space for encounter that extends beyond those who already belong to the Church.

Pope Leo XIV also emphasized the importance of remaining faithful to the liturgy and caring for spiritual life. He described the restored cathedral as a symbol where the past and future meet.