Pope Leo XIV Visits France, Warns About Technology

Pope Leo XIV began an apostolic visit to France in late September 2026, with events including a mass in Paris. During the trip, he warned that a "paradise of machines" could undermine humanity, and he criticized surrogacy, genetic manipulation, and what he called the "offer of a programmed death." A socialist official in Metz attacked the pope during the visit, while former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that if he had been president, he would have attended the mass.

The visit drew broad attention in France, with special broadcast coverage and crowds greeting the pope on his arrival.