Pope Leo XIV to visit France for four-day apostolic tour
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to conduct a four-day apostolic visit to France from September 25 to 28, 2026. The tour will include major stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz.
In Paris, the Pope is set to meet with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace and deliver a speech at the UNESCO headquarters. Religious events will include vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris and a prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. A large outdoor mass is planned for the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées.
The visit will also feature a trip to Lourdes for prayer at the Sanctuary and mass, and a stay in Metz. In Metz, the Pope will participate in interreligious meetings and deliver a speech focused on European peace and unity at the Robert Schuman Congress Center.
A significant aspect of the trip is a planned private meeting with victims of sexual abuse within the Church. The Vatican stated that "the victims themselves will be involved in the preparation of that moment." This comes amid ongoing efforts to address historical abuse within the French Church, following reports that approximately 330,000 children were victims of clerical abuse over the last 70 years.
Entities: Bishop Tibo Verni · Emmanuel Macron · France · Lourdes · Metz · Notre‑Dame Cathedral · Paris · Pope Francis · Pope Leo XIV · Pope León XIV · UNESCO · Vatican
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Pope will participate in a prayer vigil with youth at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. (Official schedule)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The Pope will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. (Official schedule)
- [● 4 SOURCES] An estimated 330,000 children were victims of sexual abuse by clergy in France over a 70-year period. (2021 report)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Pope will deliver a speech on Europe at the Robert Schuman Congress Center in Metz. (Official schedule)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Pope Leo XIV will visit France from September 25 to 28, 2026. (The Vatican)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Air France will provide special flights to transport the Pope and his delegation during the visit. (Air France)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The visit includes stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. (Official schedule)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Pope Leo XIV will hold a private meeting with victims of abuse within the Church during his visit to France. (The Vatican)