Pope Leo XIV visits Lourdes, meets sick and abuse survivors
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lourdes on 25 September, where he prayed at the Grotto, celebrated an outdoor Mass and met with the sick and survivors of clergy sexual abuse, Fox News reported. Earlier in the four-day trip, he led an open-air Mass on the Champs-Élysées that attracted more than half a million worshippers, the BBC said. In his opening remarks in France, he warned that unchecked artificial intelligence could create a "paradise of machines" and erode human dignity, NPR reported.
He also urged French bishops to intensify efforts against sexual abuse during a private meeting in Lourdes, the BBC added. The visit, his first state visit in 18 years, included meetings with President Emmanuel Macron and other French officials, the BBC noted.