Pope Leo XIV Hears Testimony of Migrants in Paris: God Opened "a new path for me"

Pope Leo XIV listened to the stories of two migrants to France during a visit to the Bakhita House in the Archdiocese of Paris on Saturday, September 26. The center, which provides support and integration for immigrants, is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

During the visit, the pope heard from a 31-year-old Nigerian woman named Blessing, who spoke about how her life changed through the help and friendship of the Catholic charity Aux Captifs, la Libération. The pope noted that the center's namesake, St. Josephine Bakhita, inspires a recognition of the role women play in building a civilization of love as an alternative to cultures that divide communities.

Since opening in late September 2021, the Bakhita House has welcomed 2,500 people from 84 different nationalities. The center employs five permanent staff members and 100 volunteers to run educational workshops in cooking, sewing, computer skills, and visual arts.