Pope Francis's Final French Stop in Metz

Centering on Europe's foundational values and the legacy of EU founding father Robert Schuman, the Pope traveled to Metz to conclude his French itinerary by focusing on the city's narrative of conflict and peace.

In his speech, the Pope cited Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, connecting the city's past to the broader narrative of European unity and peace.

Approximately 2,500 people were anticipated to line the streets of Metz to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis in his Popemobile, despite significant security measures restricting access.

Reports indicated visitors from neighboring Germany and as far as the Philippines joined the crowds, with special "Pap zones" established in Place de la République for public viewing of the mass.

President Emmanuel Macron attended the papal mass held at 4 PM at Saint-Étienne Cathedral, with a total of 6,000 people expected to participate in the day's events across Moselle.

Pope Francis lamented the return of war to Europe, stating that it has led to "innomérables victimes civiles," and referenced the 1950 Schuman Declaration as a guide for contemporary peace efforts.

He called for "patience" and "courage in negotiations" as essential elements for maintaining peace and preventing further conflict.

The choice of Metz for the papal visit is significant due to the region's unique 'concordatory' status, where Alsace and Lorraine are exempt from the strict 1905 French law on secularism.

This special status originated when these territories were under the German Empire, allowing the state to recognize and subsidize specific religious faiths, including Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish communities.

The papal visit serves as a strategic way for the Pope to engage with his followers within a specific territorial context, leveraging the unique 'concordatory' status of Metz.

Emmanuel Macron's attendance at the mass was made possible by this regional exception, as attending a similar religious event in other parts of France, where the principle of laïcité is strictly enforced, would be considered inappropriate for a head of state.

While the Pope advocates for peace and denounces the necessity of war, this 'angelic' view is challenged by the reality of totalitarian threats, such as Russia, which demand a more pragmatic response.

The speaker questioned the efficacy of maintaining peace when faced with an adversary intent on war, citing the conflict in Ukraine as a primary example, noting that the Catholic Church, once a driver of conflict, now champions peace at all costs.

The speaker critiqued the notion of 'necessary sacrifice' and dialogue when dealing with leaders like Putin, suggesting that the Christian postulate that 'man is good' often clashes with the harsh realities of international power struggles.

Negotiations are seen as failing when an opponent's objectives are driven by affective motivations and 'fantasmagoria' rather than rational territorial demands.

This perspective emphasizes the difficulty of applying idealistic Christian principles to complex geopolitical conflicts, where real-world outcomes often contradict religious tenets.

The speaker argued that while Christianity is undoubtedly one root of European identity, it is not the sole foundation, pointing to the Enlightenment philosophers in France who challenged the Church's political dominance as another significant tradition.

The labor movement, largely agnostic or atheist, constitutes yet another fundamental tradition in France, suggesting that defining Europe solely as Christian or entirely ignoring its Christian heritage would be historically inaccurate.