Pope Leo XIV to visit France under the motto “That the world may have life”
The Holy See Press Office has published the official programme for the visit
Pope Leo XIV will make an apostolic visit to France from September 25 to 28, 2026, under the motto “That the world may have life.” The visit will take the Pontiff to Paris, Lourdes and Metz, where he will meet with political authorities, young people, migrants, religious representatives and victims of abuse within the Church.
The Holy See Press Office has published the official programme for the visit, which will combine an intense institutional and pastoral agenda.
Metz will have a particular significance, as the city is associated with Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union. The dates of the papal visit are also included in the Vatican’s official 2026 calendar.
Paris, the first stop
The visit will begin on September 25, when Leo XIV will depart from Rome Fiumicino Airport for Paris. His arrival is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., followed by the official welcome ceremony at Paris Orly Airport.
The Pontiff will then travel to the Élysée Palace, where he will meet with the President of the French Republic and deliver his first address to the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
In the afternoon, Leo XIV will visit the headquarters of UNESCO, where he will deliver a second speech, before presiding over Vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The first day will conclude with a prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France, scheduled for 9:00 p.m.
Meeting with migrants and journey to Lourdes
On Saturday, September 26, Leo XIV will visit Maison Bakhita, a centre dedicated to the support and social integration of migrants. He will subsequently meet members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly at the Catholic Institute of Paris.
In the afternoon, the Pope will celebrate Mass at Place de la Concorde before travelling to Lourdes. Once there, he will visit the Grotto of the Apparitions at Massabielle for a prayer.
Lourdes, the focus of Sunday’s programme
On September 27, Leo XIV will meet with the bishops of the French Bishops’ Conference at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.
At 11:00 a.m., he will preside over Mass in the sanctuary grounds and lead the Marian prayer of the Angelus. In the afternoon, he will meet workers and citizens at Accueil Notre-Dame and hold a private meeting with contemplative religious at the Carmelite Monastery.
The day will conclude with the praying of the Holy Rosary and a candlelight procession at the sanctuary, scheduled for 9:00 p.m.
Metz and a message for peace and European unity
On the final day of the visit, September 28, Leo XIV will travel to Metz. At 10:00 a.m., he will take part in an interreligious meeting at the Robert Schuman Conference Centre.
An hour later, he will participate in the meeting “At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity”, before celebrating Mass at 4:00 p.m. in Saint Stephen’s Cathedral.
The farewell ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport. The Pope is expected to return to Rome Fiumicino Airport at 8:50 p.m.
Private meeting with victims of abuse
One of the most significant moments of the visit will be Leo XIV’s private meeting with several victims of sexual abuse within the Church. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said that the victims themselves will participate in preparing the meeting.
The encounter will take place in a particularly sensitive context for the Catholic Church in France following the publication of the CIASE report in 2021, which exposed the scale of sexual abuse committed within the Church and the large number of victims affected.
Since then, the French Bishops’ Conference has launched a series of reflection and reform processes aimed at addressing the consequences of the scandal.
With this visit, Leo XIV will combine an extensive institutional agenda with meetings with young people, migrants, religious leaders and victims of abuse, under a motto that seeks to place life, peace and unity at the centre of his visit to France.