Pope Leo Warns Against 'Paradise of Machines' During France Visit

Pope Leo began his official visit to France by warning against the potential loss of humanity in a "paradise of machines," urging a need for education in ethical discernment as technology increasingly permeates daily life. He also stressed that "authentic secularity" in a secular nation like France should not exclude religion, but rather foster dialogue between state and religious institutions for the common good.

This visit marks the first official papal trip to France in 18 years. French secularism, which has separated church and state since 1905, has in recent years been invoked to justify bans on religious symbols in public spaces and schools. The pontiff expressed concern over trends that risk turning science and technology into profit-driven ventures, citing genetic manipulation, surrogacy, the trade in human organs, and assisted dying, following France's recent legislation granting some adult patients the right to assisted dying.

Pope Leo, whose paternal grandmother was born in France, called on the European nation to remain a "tireless champion of peace" amid ongoing global conflicts, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. The pope stated his intention for the trip is to proclaim the peace of Christ throughout the world, a message he deems particularly important at the current time. Approximately one million people are expected to attend events during the first two days of his visit.

Key events include a large mass led by the pontiff at the Place de la Concorde and adjoining Champs-Élysées. He is also scheduled to visit Lourdes, a pilgrimage site where he will privately meet with victims of clerical sex abuse, and Metz, near the German border, to discuss peace in Europe. Later, the pope will tour the Notre Dame cathedral in central Paris to inspect renovations following a 2019 fire, becoming the first pope to do so. The visit concludes with a prayer and hymn service with young believers in a Paris stadium, where a relic believed to be the tunic Jesus wore during the Passion will be displayed.

While regular church attendance is low in France, with only about five percent of the population attending services, there is a rise in teenage and adult baptisms, indicating a continued interest in the faith among some demographics. The pope's predecessor, Pope Francis, visited France three times but never officially. Pope Benedict XVI made the last official papal visit in September 2008.