Vatican & World News 26.09.2026

Laudato a Jesus Christus, Vatican and World News.

In the headlines today, Saturday, September the 25th,

Pope Leo XIV's second day in France sees him visit a house for migrants,

address the French Church, celebrate Holy Mass in the presence of 700,000 people,

and he says adieu to Paris as he prepares to undertake the second leg of this apostolic journey in Lourdes.

In the Vatican, I'm Linda Bordoni.

Popelio XIV visited the Maison Bakhita Social Integration Centre in Paris on Saturday where migrants are able to learn skills and find ways to integrate into French society.

In the morning of the second day of his apostolic visit to France, The Pope expressed his appreciation for the work carried out by the facility,

and he encouraged everyone to enjoy life in abundance by sharing our God-given spiritual and material gifts.

Devon Watkins reports. Pope Leo XIV paid a visit on Saturday to the Maison-Baquita Centre in Paris, which offers support and social integration services to migrants and refugees.

He expressed his gratitude to the Archdiocese of Paris, which runs the facility, and the many volunteers and staff who offer welcome, a listening ear, formation, and friendship.

He pointed to the center's patron saint, St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave who became a religious sister in Italy, as an inspiration.

The Pope said she helps us recognize the fundamental role of women in building a civilization of love, which is an alternative to a culture that tears communities apart and leaves cities sick with loneliness.

When we

look closely, he said, the history of the Church and of humanity is written by those who make room, initiate processes of peace, build trust, and encourage life.

Popplio said St. Paquita shows us how to look past our modern economy that can enslave, to see those who are invisible, and to honor the immeasurable dignity of every brother and sister.

The poor, he said, are not a sociological category for Christians, but the very flesh of Christ who invites us to practice charity and to love them.

The Pope encouraged everyone to exchange both spiritual and material gifts which we have received from God.

No one is so poor as to have nothing to give. No one is so rich as to have nothing to receive, he said.

There is life in abundance wherever each person's limitations become an opening to the mysterious presence of others.

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV thanked the Maison Baquita and all Christians who carry out similar works of charity throughout France.

Continue to

bear witness, he said, and to care for one another through fraternal welcome, programs of formation and dialogue which elevate the spirit and make the world more humane.

I'm Devin Watkins. Meanwhile, speaking to the president of the Maison Baquita,

valerie moniot vatican news's deborah castellano lubov explained that the maison is much more than a facility it's a home it's a home it's a house

And in this house, we welcome people, any people who are in what we call a situation d'exil, who are in exile, migrants, refugees, whatever.

And we don't ask them why they come in France or in what type of administrative situation they are.

We just welcome them with a name

eventually their country of origin, their homeland and that's all

and they can come here just to relax to meet French people, to learn French, to

have some activities with other people like arts or sports or sewing or whatever and all these activities they are

assumed by the benevolent volunteers volunteers. All of them are volunteers.

We have 130 volunteers in this house.

And because of them, we can welcome almost 150 people globally in the house every day.

And that was Valérie Mognon, president of Maison Bakhita, speaking there to Deborah Castellano-Luboff in Paris.

And the Pope's morning in Paris, meanwhile, on Saturday, concluded with a visit

to the Catholic University of Paris, where he addressed members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly, catechumens and newly baptized Catholics.