Pope Leo XIV called on people of faith to promote peace, protect human dignity, and reject every attempt to use religion as a justification for violence.

The Holy Father delivered his message during an interreligious gathering in Metz on the final day of his Apostolic Journey to France.

Speaking at the Robert Schuman Conference Center, Pope Leo reflected on the legacy of Venerable Robert Schuman, a founding figure of European integration whose Catholic faith influenced his commitment to cooperation among nations. The Pope presented Schuman as an example of how differences can be overcome through dialogue and a shared pursuit of peace.

Building upon Pope Francis’ teaching in Fratelli Tutti, Pope Leo encouraged Catholics and members of other religions to approach one another with sincerity. Genuine dialogue, he explained, does not require believers to compromise their faith. Instead, it allows people with different convictions to encounter one another with honesty and respect.

The Pope also emphasized that God can never be invoked to excuse oppression or violence. Anything that attacks the dignity of the human person is contrary to God’s will.

Pope Leo urged believers to help bring about a disarming of both hearts and words, replacing hostility with peaceful encounter.

Religious communities also have a particular responsibility to defend the sacredness of human life, he said. Their faith should bear fruit through care for the vulnerable, especially those facing suffering and hardship. The strength of a civilization, the Pope noted, is demonstrated not merely through material accomplishments, but through its treatment of every human person.

Concluding the meeting, Pope Leo affirmed the Catholic Church’s willingness to walk alongside those who sincerely seek truth, goodness, and beauty, praying that God would guide all people to live as His children and as brothers and sisters.