On the final day of his four-day visit to France, Pope Leo XIV delivered a speech in the city of Metz, focusing on the moral state of the continent. The Pope expressed concern regarding current international relations, stating that interactions between individuals and states are becoming increasingly uncivilized. He criticized a perceived decline in honesty, noting that the value of keeping one's word is frequently dismissed in favor of deceit. He suggested that Europe has a unique opportunity to break this cycle by leaning into its history of cultivating mutual respect.

President Emmanuel Macron appeared alongside the Pope to address the crowd, shifting the focus toward the political future of the European Union. Macron urged European leaders and citizens to rediscover the "courage of its founders." He explicitly warned against the "resurgence of nationalism," framing it as a threat to the stability and progress of the European project. While both leaders emphasized the importance of unity, their rhetoric differed in focus: the Pope centered his message on moral and historical values, while President Macron centered his on political resilience and the rejection of nationalist ideologies.