Pope Leo XIV Apostolic visit to France

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to make an Apostolic Journey to France from September 25 to 28, 2026, according to an announcement from the Director of the Holy See Press Office.

This visit will be the first time a Pope has traveled to France on an official Papal state visit since Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, when he journeyed to Paris and Lourdes.

The journey comes as a response to the invitations made by the Head of State, the ecclesiastical authorities of the country, and the Director-General of UNESCO, the Press Office statement noted. The trip is seen as a major pastoral and diplomatic event for the Church in France.

Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, President of the French Bishops’ Conference, welcomed it as “a great joy” and an opportunity to share the Church’s current realities and challenges, while encouraging renewal and vocations. It also strengthens ties between the Holy See and France, with prior meetings between Pope Leo and President Emmanuel Macron on April 10, 2026, at the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

The official motto of the visit is “Pour que le monde ait la vie” (“So that the world may have life”).

While the full program is still being finalized, confirmed highlights include:

September 25, Paris: Encounter with the faithful before vespers. Vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, presided over by the Pope. Evening gathering with young people.

September 26, Paris: Open-air Mass in the heart of Paris, inviting both in-person and online participation.

September 27, Lourdes: celebration of the Eucharist at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

September 28, Metz:  Mass at Metz Cathedral.

The Pope will also visit the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, continuing a papal tradition begun by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1980.

French bishops and local leaders have emphasized the pastoral nature of the visit, calling for preparation in welcoming the Pope and organizing events. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris described the visit as a “source of comfort and encouragement” for French Catholics.

This journey will be the fifth international trip of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, following visits to Turkey, Lebanon, Monaco, Algeria, and Spain.