Pope in Metz: God never inspires anything that disfigures human dignity
Pope Leo XIV met with representatives of various religions in Metz during the final day of his apostolic journey to France. He praised interreligious dialogue as a way to build friendship and peace across borders, citing Robert Schuman’s example and Pope Francis’ encyclical *Fratelli Tutti*. The Pope said invoking God to justify violence or oppression profanes God’s name, and urged believers to promote the disarmament of hearts and words. He described religions as guardians of life, calling on them to protect vulnerable people and uphold every person’s dignity. Leo said the Catholic Church regards all who sincerely seek truth, goodness, and beauty as companions on the journey.
3 days ago
Pope Leo XIV used an interreligious meeting in Metz, on the final day of his visit to France, to urge people of faith to build dialogue and peace, reject violence justified in God’s name, and protect human dignity and life. 1
Speaking at the Robert Schuman Conference Center, Leo invoked the legacy of Robert Schuman, a founder of European unity, as an example of turning divisions into bridges. He said people of faith share a responsibility to show that friendship and peace are possible across borders. 1
The Pope described dialogue as an “art of encounter,” saying it does not weaken religious identity but opens it to the diversity of others. He recalled Pope Francis’ call for dialogue to foster friendship and peace, and cited John Paul II’s description of dialogue as intrinsic to human nature. 1
Leo said invoking God to justify violence or oppression profanes God’s name. “Nothing that disfigures human dignity can claim to be inspired by God,” he said, urging religious discourse to promote the “disarmament of hearts and words.” 1
The Pope called religions “guardians of life,” saying their value is evident when believers stand alongside vulnerable people and uphold life’s sacred worth. He said a civilization should be judged not by its material achievements but by how it cares for and protects people. 1
Leo described serving life as surrounding people with care, presence, and tenderness through hardship and “right to the very end.” Aleteia noted that this emphasis came amid France’s recently enacted law permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia under specified conditions; it also recalled his remarks in Lourdes the previous day rejecting death presented as compassion. 1
In closing, Leo said the Catholic Church regards those who sincerely seek truth, goodness, and beauty as companions on the journey. 1*
Religious traditions must protect human dignity and reject violence
The claim is strongly consistent with Catholic teaching: religious traditions should defend the dignity of every person and reject violence—not excuse it by invoking God. Pope Francis says that religious leaders must expose violations of human dignity and human rights, condemn hatred dressed up as religion, and affirm the sacredness of every human life regardless of ethnicity, religion, culture, or political conviction.
This does not mean violence committed by religious people should be denied or minimized. Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged that Christians, too, have used force in the name of faith, calling this an abuse that contradicts Christianity’s true nature and requires continuing purification. The point is not to claim that religion has never been implicated in violence, but to insist that such violence must be confronted rather than sanctified.
The Catholic approach also calls for practical cooperation across religious differences. The Church encourages believers to prevent the manipulation of religion for political ends and to work together for peace and human rights. Dialogue does not require treating all beliefs as the same; it can mean holding one’s convictions while listening respectfully and cooperating against hatred and violence.
In short, faith is tested not by claims made in God’s name but by whether it respects the human person and bears fruit in justice, compassion, and peace. Pope Leo XIV likewise teaches that using God’s name to legitimize violence betrays God’s nature and attacks religion itself.