---
title: Pope Leo XIV says history is written by those who make room for peace, not by the victorious
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/pope-leo-xiv-says-history-is-written-by-those-who-make-room-for-peace-not-by-the-victorious
published: 2026-09-29T14:50:59+00:00
language: en
section: World Church
source: https://www.vaticannews.va/zh/pope/news/2026-09/pope-leo-xiv-visit-maison-bakhita-social-integration-centre.html
organizations: Maison Bakhita, Archdiocese of Paris, Vatican News
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Pope Leo XIV says history is written by those who make room for peace, not by the victorious

Pope Leo XIV told staff and visitors at Maison Bakhita in Paris that human history is not shaped by those who appear to win, impose rules or occupy space, but by those who make room, open paths of peace, build trust and encourage life.

During his first pastoral visit to France, the pope visited the centre on September 26, a day before he was due to travel to Lourdes as a pilgrim. Maison Bakhita, founded in 2021 by the Archdiocese of Paris, offers hospitality, training and services to migrants, the sick and people experiencing homelessness.

The pope praised the centre as a sign that encounter and shared life in dignity and peace are possible. He highlighted the role of women in building a civilisation of love, calling for that spirit to replace a culture that isolates individuals and sickens cities.

Before speaking, the pope listened to three personal testimonies covering life stories, daily routines and painful experiences. He said these were not mere feelings but choices made against the current, and that their importance in public life and for the future is becoming clear.

He urged the community to see Christ in the poor, quoting from his apostolic exhortation Dilectio Dei, which calls the poor not a social category but the flesh of Christ himself. He also cited 1 Corinthians 12, reminding listeners that no part of the body can dismiss another, and that the weakest parts are often the most essential.

The pope closed by thanking all who serve in similar centres across France, encouraging them to continue witnessing to care for one another through fraternal welcome and dialogue, so that the spirit may be lifted and the world filled with humanity.

## This story in other languages

- [Português (Brasil)](https://www.faithfulnews.com/pt-br/papa-francisco-destaca-que-a-historia-nao-e-escrita-pelos-vencedores-mas-por-quem-abre-caminhos-de-paz)
- [Nederlands](https://www.faithfulnews.com/nl/paus-franciscus-benadrukt-dat-geschiedenis-door-vredezoekers-wordt-geschreven)
- [Svenska](https://www.faithfulnews.com/sv/pave-betonar-historiska-berattelser-om-fred-och-integration)