Pope Leo XIV is set to visit France later this month, a trip expected to draw more than one million people, according to the Bishops’ Conference of France (CEF). This marks the first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years.
The pontiff's four-day itinerary, beginning September 25, includes popemobile rides, an open-air Mass in central Paris, and a visit to Lourdes, a significant site for Catholic pilgrimage.
"The trip is important for the country hosting him, but more broadly the pope will also have very important things to say to the entire world," Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the bishops’ conference, stated.
Paris Itinerary
The visit commences in Paris with a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, followed by an address at UNESCO headquarters. Pope Leo XIV will then travel by popemobile along a 1.6-mile route through central Paris, an event anticipated to draw up to 150,000 onlookers. The pontiff is scheduled to celebrate vespers at Notre Dame Cathedral and conclude the day with a prayer vigil for young people at France’s national stadium.
The following day features an open-air Mass at Place de la Concorde, with organizers expecting at least 500,000 people along the Champs-Élysées and near the Arc de Triomphe, areas the popemobile will traverse. The Mass will be broadcast on 42 large screens along the avenue.
In Paris, the Pope is also slated to meet with migrants at the Maison Bakhita, a social support center, and with recently baptized Catholics.
Lourdes and European Dimension
The Pope will then travel to Lourdes, located in the Pyrenees foothills. There, he is scheduled to meet with seven survivors of sexual abuse. "I think the Church, like society as a whole, has become aware of the terrible reality of sexual abuse," said Pierre-Antoine Bozo, spokesperson for the bishops’ conference. "It now recognizes that reality and is trying to provide as much support as possible to survivors of abuse, to help them, if possible, move beyond the trauma they have experienced."
In Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV will participate in a rosary and torchlight procession. His final stop will be Metz, near the borders with Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany. This portion of the visit is intended to lend a European and international dimension to the trip, according to the CEF. In Metz, the Pope is expected to deliver a speech on Europe’s historical roots, peace, and unity at a conference center named for Robert Schuman, a key figure in European integration.
A popemobile ride through Metz will lead to the city’s Gothic cathedral, known for its extensive stained glass.
Financials and Logistics
The CEF estimates the cost of the papal visit at 27 million euros (approximately $31 million). A fundraising campaign launched earlier in the summer has raised 5.5 million euros ($6.4 million) to date. The French state will provide logistical and security support for the event.
This trip will be Pope Leo XIV’s fourth foreign visit this year. He previously visited Monaco, four African nations, and Spain and the Canary Islands. The Vatican has also confirmed an upcoming trip to Latin America in November, including Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.