Pope Leo XIV to visit France in multi-city apostolic trip

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undertake an apostolic visit to France from September 25 to 28, visiting Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. The trip is expected to draw approximately one million participants across various events.

In Paris, the itinerary includes a meeting with President Macron at the Élysée Palace, a speech at UNESCO, and a prayer vigil for youth at the Stade de France. A major mass is planned for Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées, with up to 500,000 faithful expected. The Pope will also visit a migrant reception center and the Catholic Institute of Paris.

The visit continues in Lourdes, where the Pope will pray at the Grotto of Massabielle, meet with victims of sexual abuse within the Church, and participate in a candlelit procession. The journey will conclude in Metz with an interreligious meeting and a mass at the cathedral.

The estimated cost of the visit is approximately 27 million euros. Preparations are underway to manage the massive influx of pilgrims, which has already led to high demand for local accommodations in Lourdes and Metz.