Pope Leo XIV's Metz Visit: Secular Association Criticizes Municipal Funding

The Union des Familles laïques (Ufal) in Moselle has formally requested the prefect to review the legality of Metz city's decision to allocate €500,000 for Pope Leo XIV's visit on September 28. The association, while not opposing the papal visit itself, strongly denounces the associated expenses being borne by the local community.

Matthieu Gatipon-Bachette, president of Ufal, stated that the organization is concerned about "legal questions" surrounding the use of public funds, particularly the rental of large screens to broadcast the papal mass. He noted that the event will already be broadcast by media outlets, making the municipal expenditure questionable. Ufal has initiated a formal appeal and requested documents from the Metz city hall concerning the €500,000 budget, which includes €250,000 for investments and €250,000 for operational costs.

Mayor François Grosdidier, representing the right-wing, had previously anticipated that the €250,000 operational budget would be fully utilized. He emphasized the global significance of the Pope's visit, extending beyond the Catholic community, and highlighted the "immense honor" for Metz to be chosen as a destination. The Moselle region, along with Alsace, operates under concordat laws, which permit local authorities to fund religious services, unlike the rest of France governed by the 1905 law on the separation of church and state.

The Pope's visit to Metz will mark the European leg of his French tour, which also includes stops in Paris on September 25 and Lourdes on September 27. The prefecture of Moselle had not immediately responded to requests for comment from AFP.