Pope Leo XIV to meet Paris charities that work with vulnerable people
The pope will set aside part of his September 26 visit to Paris to meet representatives of Aux captifs, la libération, Le Rocher and Lazar, three groups working with people living in exclusion in the French capital
Pope Leo XIV will meet representatives of charitable associations that work with vulnerable people in Paris on September 26, during his visit to the French capital.
The pope will devote part of his schedule that day to meeting charities that work with the most disadvantaged people in the city. Representatives of Aux captifs, la libération, Le Rocher and Lazar will attend. The groups have said they are committed to practical solidarity with people living in exclusion.
The three groups say help for vulnerable people has to be built on relationships between equals, without hierarchies that intimidate or judgments that push people away. In Paris, that solidarity takes very concrete forms. Young people and homeless people share their experiences and support one another. The café, in the French sense of a place to meet, becomes a space where women can talk freely about their lives and find the motivation to get out of difficult situations.
Leaders of Aux captifs, la libération say their work draws directly on the message of the prophet Isaiah, which announces that Jesus came "to set prisoners free." Founded in 1981 by Father Patrick Giros, the association now has 400 volunteers and more than 80 professional staff across 15 sites. Its director general, Thierry Desjuzeur, said the pope's visit to these people is a key step in the process of rebuilding their personal and social lives.
Le Rocher, which has been working for 25 years, focuses on building social ties through visits and time spent together. Charlotte Perez-Guzman, its communications director, said its activities include the "café des femmes," where women meet to share their experiences, and the "philosophy café," where current social issues are discussed. Both are meant to offer trust and support to people living in isolation.
Lazar works on a different model: homeless people and young workers living together. Timothée Barre, the group's delegate general, said its approach rests on equitable relationships in which everyone involved supports the others. The project began in France, has since spread to other countries and aims to create a genuine sense of community among people from very different backgrounds.
The groups also raised growing concern about online prostitution, which they said has been made worse by heavy use of the internet and social media. Aux captifs, la libération has begun to work on the problem and has made contact with women looking for a way out. The groups said they hope the papal visit will open real paths toward liberation and social reintegration.
Based on reporting by Javier Ruiz Arregui for Iglesia Noticias. This article was translated and adapted from Spanish with the help of artificial intelligence.
