Pope Leo XIV in France: the first papal visit in 18 years

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Pope Leo XIV at the Élysée on Friday, initiating a four-day visit in France, the first official papal state visit in 18 years. Macron expressed hope that the visit would inspire those facing the world's hardships and emphasized the importance of international oversight of artificial intelligence to prevent misuse and oppression. The pope warned against a 'paradise of machines' threatening humanity and urged France to use its influence to promote peace and dialogue, rejecting nuclear weapons as a security guarantee.