At a Paris migrant centre, Pope Leo puts everyday dignity in the spotlight

A language lesson, a sewing workshop, someone who knows your name. Starting again in another country can depend on small things that rarely make a big speech. On September 26, those everyday acts of support became part of Pope Leo XIV's visit to France.

The pope visited Maison Bakhita, a Paris centre helping migrants and refugees settle into community life. His message focused on dignity and mutual support: people arriving in a new country have something to contribute, as well as needs that deserve attention.

A place for finding your feet

Vatican News reported that the centre is run by the Archdiocese of Paris with staff and volunteers. During the visit, Leo thanked those involved and highlighted the part women play in building community.

The centre takes its name from Saint Josephine Bakhita, who was enslaved before becoming a religious sister. The name gives the work a connection to a life marked by suffering, freedom and service.

The pope's central point was that help should not be imagined as travelling in only one direction. Receiving support does not remove a person's skills, experience or ability to care for somebody else. That is a simple idea, but it can get lost when migration is discussed only through numbers.

What support looks like on the ground

EWTN News reported that Maison Bakhita opened in September 2021 and was marking its fifth anniversary. It has served 2,500 people from 84 nationalities, with five staff members and about 100 volunteers.

Its activities include sewing, cooking, art and computer workshops. These are practical ways to learn, meet people and build confidence, rather than expecting newcomers to figure everything out alone.

One person who spoke about that experience was Meysam, a 35-year-old Afghan refugee. According to EWTN, he improved his French and learned sewing at the centre. He now volunteers in street outreach twice a week.

His example gave a concrete shape to the theme of the visit. A person can need support during one stage of life and become a source of support for others. Those roles are not fixed forever.

A human conversation inside a political one

AFP placed the visit within Leo's four-day trip to France, running from September 25 to 28. It also noted the sensitive political setting, with immigration a divisive issue ahead of the French presidential election.

A visit to a community centre does not settle arguments about borders, public services or government policy. It does, however, put actual people into a debate that can quickly become abstract.

For a younger reader, perhaps the most relatable part is the need to belong somewhere. Learning unfamiliar rules is hard enough. Doing it in a new language, without an established support network, adds another layer.

Maison Bakhita's story points to a practical response: spaces where people can learn together and become useful to one another. The papal visit brought attention to that work, but the work itself continues long after the visitors leave.