Pope Leo XIV visits Maison Bakhita in Paris

Pope Leo XIV visited Maison Bakhita in Paris on September 26 to meet with migrants, refugees, and people in exile. The welcome center is operated by the Archdiocese of Paris.

During the visit, three individuals supported by various local associations shared their experiences. Meysam, a 35-year-old Afghan tailor who moved to France in 2015, spoke about his work volunteering to train women, noting that such opportunities are unavailable to them in his home country.

The Pope's visit to the center preceded a Mass held at Place de la Concorde, which Agenzia Fides reported was attended by 800,000 people along the Champs-Élysées. Other organizations represented at the center included Aux captifs, la libération, which assists people living on the streets and those involved in prostitution, and À Bras Ouverts, which supports children and young adults with intellectual or psychological disabilities.