Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undertake his first official visit to France, with a four-day itinerary spanning from September 25 to 28. The visit has generated significant anticipation in the French capital, which has not hosted a pope since Benedict XVI in 2008. According to the police prefecture, officials anticipate up to 250,000 people will gather along the route of the pontiff's procession through Paris.
The events in the region are expected to draw large numbers, including approximately 80,000 ticket holders for a youth mass at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Charles Mercier, director of studies in the history and sociology of Catholicism at the École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) in Paris, noted that while previous popes visited areas on the outskirts of the country, the arrival in the capital represents a major event that contributes to the high level of public enthusiasm. Observers also attribute the excitement to the popularity of the pontiff, who has been perceived as attentive and connected to the public since his election in May 2025.
During his two-day stay in Paris and the broader Île-de-France region, the Pope is slated to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée palace on Friday. His schedule also includes meetings with civil society, authorities, and the diplomatic corps, followed by a visit to UNESCO. On Sunday, the pontiff will travel to Lourdes, where he is scheduled to hold discussions with seven victims of sexual abuse within the Church. This group includes a former pupil from the nearby school of Notre Dame de Bétharram, an institution where more than 230 victims filed complaints in 2024 regarding sexual abuse and corporal punishment.
Another reason for the enthusiasm is the pontiff’s popularity, which extends far beyond French Catholics. Elected in May 2025, Leo XIV has presented himself as a pope who is connected and attentive to everyone.
