Pope Leo XIV visits Maison Bakhita in Paris

Pope Leo XIV visited the Maison Bakhita social assistance and integration center in Paris on Saturday, September 26. During the visit, the Pope encouraged people to live full lives by sharing both spiritual and material gifts with others.

The Pope spoke about the importance of reciprocity in Christian charity, stating that no one is so poor that they have nothing to give and no one has so much that they do not need to receive from others. He described the relationship between those who help and those who receive help as a mutual exchange of gifts rather than a one-sided interaction.

The visit included listening to testimonies from a refugee and individuals associated with the organizations À Bras Ouverts and Aux Captifs la Libération. This visit was the first public event of a day that included meetings at the Institut Catholique de Paris and a Mass before his scheduled travel to Lourdes.