started · updated
Pope Leo XIV prepares for apostolic visit to France
Pope Leo XIV is preparing for an apostolic visit to France from September 25 to 28, 2026, with scheduled stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. In Paris, organizers expect up to 500,000 attendees for major masses, including an event at the Stade de France for 80,000 young people.
In Lourdes, preparations are underway for a mass of 150,000 people and a procession. However, the visit is overshadowed by controversy regarding a planned meeting with sexual abuse survivors. The French Bishops' Conference has selected only seven individuals for a private meeting, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from victim advocacy groups.
Groups such as the collective from Notre-Dame de Bétharram have expressed dismay, arguing that the limited selection and the refusal to grant a collective audience represent “institutional contempt.” They had requested a meeting to propose concrete plans for reparations and child protection, but were instead offered the option to submit suggestions in writing, which they rejected as an inadequate substitute for direct dialogue.
Entities
French Bishops' Conference · Lourdes · Metz · Monseigneur Ballot · Notre-Dame de Bétharram · Paris · Pope Leo XIV · Vatican
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Bishop of Metz presented his diocese to the Pope in January, highlighting the region's history of reconciliation. www.dna.fr · www.ledauphine.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The theme of the Pope's trip to France is 'For the world to have life'. www.dna.fr · www.ledauphine.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Pope Leo XIV will visit Paris and Lourdes from September 25 to 27. www.dna.fr · www.ledauphine.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Pope will conclude his French tour in Metz on September 28. www.dna.fr · www.ledauphine.com