Pope Leo XIV condemns religious justification of violence

Pope Leo XIV condemned the use of religion to justify violence and oppression during a meeting with various faith leaders at the Robert Schuman Congress Center in Metz, France, on September 28, 2026. Speaking to representatives from multiple religious communities, the pope stated that invoking God's name to legitimize violence profanes that name and that nothing which harms human dignity can claim divine inspiration.

The pope arrived at the venue accompanied by Christian Krieger, president of the Protestant Federation of France, Haïm Korsia, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grande Mesquita de Paris, and Anthony Boussemart of the União Budista. Following the proclamation of the Apelo de Metz, a joint document from the participating religious groups, the pope said religious discourse must encourage the disarmament of hearts and words, noting that tradition keepers bear direct responsibility for this task.