Pope Leo XIV calls for protection of migrants during France visit

Pope Leo XIV called for greater protection of migrants during his official visit to France, according to France 24.

The remarks were made as part of a broader set of engagements during the pope's trip, which has included commentary from religious figures such as Father Philip Larrey and Father Michael Baggott discussing the visit's themes on France 24.

Migration has remained a prominent and often contested political issue in France and across Europe, and the pope's comments add a religious voice to the ongoing debate over how migrants should be treated and protected.

A recurring theme of the papacy

Calls to protect migrants have been a consistent theme raised by the Catholic Church's leadership in recent years, with the papacy repeatedly urging member states to prioritise humanitarian treatment of people fleeing conflict, poverty or persecution.

The pope's remarks in France come alongside other engagements during his visit, including a large public Mass in Paris, as he continues to address a range of social and spiritual themes to French audiences.