Pope Leo XIV issued a severe indictment of deteriorating global diplomacy on Monday, warning that international relations have grown increasingly uncivilised and urging European leaders to counter a mounting culture of political dishonesty and broken treaties.
Speaking in the eastern French border city of Metz alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, the pontiff cautioned that the foundational principles of international law and mutual trust are being actively dismantled on the world stage.
“Relations between individuals and states are becoming increasingly uncivilised,” Pope Leo said during his keynote address at a conference themed To the Roots of Europe, for Peace and Unity. “The value of keeping one’s word is dismissed; instead, people boast of lies and deceit. Europe can help to break this cycle through the respect for others that it has learned to cultivate and preserve.”
The Pope insisted that Europe must reclaim its moral responsibility by rejecting aggressive nationalisms and serving as an anchor for multilateral dialogue. He noted that the continent’s post-war institutions were forged specifically to prevent the catastrophic consequences of territorial ambition and shattered agreements.
Welcoming the pontiff, President Macron emphasised the historical weight of the venue, highlighting Metz’s status as a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation and the birthplace of post-war European integration championed by French statesman Robert Schuman.
The high-level gathering drew European dignitaries, including Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and regional German representatives, despite a limited overall turnout of European Union heads of state.
The address formed the centerpiece of the final day of the pontiff’s apostolic journey to France, concluding a landmark multi-day tour that focused extensively on peacebuilding, humanitarian solidarity, and the continent’s historical roots.
