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Papal trip showed miracle of rebirth out of tragedy is possible, pope says
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV said his trip to France aimed to show that new life can emerge after tragedy, meeting survivors and visiting restored Notre Dame.
Pope Leo XIV highlighted the theme of rebirth during his recent visit to France, emphasizing that even after great suffering, new life can emerge when people come together out of love for their neighbors and the common good.
During his weekly general audience on Sept. 30, Pope Leo XIV reflected on his Sept. 25-28 trip to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, where he visited the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, met with survivors of abuse, and celebrated Mass in the public square.
The pope said the visit to Notre Dame, which was restored after a fire in 2019, symbolically shed light on the entire apostolic journey, offering a perspective of rebirth.
Pope Leo XIV noted that a tangible sign of rebirth appeared during Mass in Place de la Concorde, which he called a highpoint of his visit.
The pope also addressed Europe's rebirth after two world wars, emphasizing principles of democracy, solidarity, and fraternity among peoples, which he said owe much to Christian roots.
In addition, Pope Leo XIV highlighted a sign of renewal within the Church in France, noting the growing number of young people and adults seeking baptism.
Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Lourdes told Paris Match that Pope Leo XIV approved plans to permanently cover mosaics at the shrine, following the pope's guidance to stop using images by the disgraced Fr. Rupnik in Vatican communications.
What this adds
Despite apparent papal approval, the shrine at Lourdes may face ongoing questions over the controversial mosaics, especially with a planned visit to Fátima next year.
Background
Pope Leo XIV highlighted the theme of rebirth during his recent visit to France, emphasizing that even after great suffering, new life can emerge when people come together out of love for their neighbors and the common good.
Pope Leo XIV started a four-day visit to France, focusing on issues like artificial intelligence and meeting abuse survivors.
What's confirmed
- VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV’s journey to France aimed to show that a joyful or serene rebirth is always possible even after tremendous tragedy or terrible suffering, he said.
- By visiting the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, meeting with survivors of abuse and praying at Lourdes, and celebrating the Christian faith openly in the public square of a secular nation, the pope highlighted how the miracle of new life can happen when everyone comes together out of love for one’s neighbor and the common good, he said during his weekly general audience Sept. 30.
- As has been customary, Pope Leo used his first general audience after his Sept. 25-28 trip to Paris, Lourdes and Metz in France to tell people about the purpose of his visit and to thank all those who made the journey possible.
- The Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris, which was restored after a fire destroyed its wooden spire and most of its roof in 2019, “can symbolically shed light on this entire apostolic journey, offering a perspective that I would summarize in one word: rebirth,” he said in his main catechesis in Italian to thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
- A tangible and visible sign of rebirth “appeared in a surprising way” during Mass Sept. 26 in Place de la Concorde, which, he said, was a highpoint of his visit.
- After two devastating world wars, “Europe was reborn, founded on those principles of democracy, solidarity and fraternity amongst peoples, which owe much to its Christian roots,” Pope Leo said.
- However, the pope said, there is also “a sign of renewal within the Church in France that has been evident for some years now, namely the remarkable and growing number of young people and adults seeking baptism.” A tangible and visible sign of rebirth “appeared in a surprising way” during Mass Sept.
What's still developing
- With the prospect of a papal visit to Fátima next year, it is possible the shrine will face ongoing questions over the controversial mosaics.