Paris, July 17, 2026 – Pope Leo XIV is set to make a significant apostolic visit to France from September 25 to 28, 2026, with key stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. The details of his two-day visit to the French capital, scheduled for September 25 and 26, are now becoming clearer, promising a series of major events open to the faithful.
Pope’s Itinerary in Paris: A Detailed Overview
The Pontiff’s visit to Paris will commence on Friday, September 25, with an afternoon procession through the streets of Paris in the papamobile, allowing him to greet the French people directly. Following this, he will proceed to Notre-Dame Cathedral to celebrate solemn vespers with priests, deacons and their wives, consecrated persons, and seminarians from across France. This will be a poignant moment for the clergy and religious community.
Later that evening, Pope Leo XIV will head to the Stade de France for a grand prayer vigil dedicated to young people aged 17-35. Organizers anticipate a significant turnout, with estimates ranging from 60,000 to 80,000 attendees, according to Mgr Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris. This event underscores the Pope’s focus on engaging with the younger generation.
The following day, Saturday, September 26, will feature a colossal open-air mass. Pope Leo XIV will celebrate this solemn mass in the early afternoon, stretching from Place de la Concorde to the Champs-Élysées. Media reports suggest an attendance of approximately 400,000 people for this historic gathering, making it one of the largest public religious events in Paris in recent memory.
Program Highlights:
- Friday, September 25, 2026:
- Late afternoon: Papamobile procession through the streets of Paris.
- Early evening: Solemn vespers celebration at Notre-Dame Cathedral with clergy and religious.
- Evening: Grand prayer vigil with young people (17-35 years old) at Stade de France (estimated 60,000 to 80,000 participants).
- Saturday, September 26, 2026:
- Early afternoon: Grand open-air mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées (estimated 400,000 participants).
A Historically Significant Visit to France
This visit by Pope Leo XIV holds particular significance, as it marks the first state visit to Paris by a Pope since Pope Francis’s pontificate, during which he did not make such a trip to the capital. While his predecessor visited Marseille in 2023 and Corsica in 2024, he did not participate in the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris. Therefore, Pope Leo XIV’s visit is seen as a new chapter in the relationship between the Vatican, France, and its capital.
Beyond Paris, Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey will continue to Lourdes, a renowned pilgrimage site, and then to Metz, concluding his visit to France. Further details regarding the precise locations, access to celebrations, potential broadcasts, and traffic restrictions will be announced progressively by the Diocese of Paris. Residents of Paris and the Île-de-France region are encouraged to prepare for these momentous events, which are expected to draw a large number of faithful for Pope Leo XIV’s first official visit to France.
Source: https://www.sortiraparis.com/actualites/a-paris/articles/345580-visite-du-pape-leon-xiv-a-paris-papamobile-notre-dame-stade-de-france-le-programme-se-precise
