Pope Leo XIV Begins Four-Day Visit to France
On Friday, September 25, Pope Leo XIV arrived in France to kick off his fourth Apostolic Journey as the leader of the Catholic Church. This marks his first formal visit to the country since Pope Benedict XVI’s trip in September 2008. The Pope’s itinerary includes stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, featuring speeches and a grand outdoor mass.
French bishops announced that the theme of this visit is “That the world may have life,” which resonates with recent trends of increasing baptisms in France. According to the Conference of Bishops of France, over 21,000 adults, mostly young people aged 18 to 25, have joined the Church this year.
Retired French Bishop Marc Stenger expressed the growing enthusiasm surrounding the visit, saying, “Pope Leo’s visit has sparked significant interest. French Catholics feel they need the Church to help guide them in these uncertain times.”
The Pope’s visit comes in the wake of past scandals, highlighting the Church’s struggle with its reputation after a 2021 report revealed that approximately 330,000 children had been abused by clergy and lay leaders in France over several decades. In a message of compassion, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo would meet privately with seven victims in Lourdes to promote healing.
The Vatican has described this trip as a journey focusing on faith, public engagement, and building bridges. Following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace, the Pope is set to deliver 15 speeches on various topics, encompassing themes of peace, culture, and the need for human dignity in an age of advancing technology like AI.
Bishops in France have noted the exceptional level of interest in the Pope’s visit. The mass scheduled for Saturday at Paris’ Place de la Concorde is expected to attract nearly one million attendees, prompting organizers to extend security measures beyond the Champs-Élysées.
Pope Leo will also visit Lourdes, known as a major Pilgrimage site, where he is scheduled to pray and offer his insights. His visit is particularly meaningful as it comes against the backdrop of recent legislation in France that allows adults with incurable illnesses to access lethal medication, as well as constitutional protections for abortion.
In Paris, the Pope will address members of UNESCO and is expected to reaffirm his stance on the need for regulation of AI, highlighting philosophical questions about what it means to be human. This speech is likely to counter the more technology-focused approach taken by global leaders, including U.S. President Trump.
The visit will conclude with a day in Metz, where Pope Leo intends to foster unity among European nations, using the occasion to celebrate the legacy of Robert Schuman, considered one of the founders of the European Union.
French Ambassador to the Vatican, Charles Personnaz, confirmed that leaders from all 27 EU nations have been invited to attend the Pope’s concluding address, with reports suggesting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may also be present.
As Pope Leo XIV embraces the opportunity to connect with the faithful in France, his visit symbolizes a moment of reflection and hope for many within the Catholic community.
