Pope Leo XIV set for first official visit to France, with huge crowds expected in Paris

Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his first official visit to France from September 25th to 28th, with Paris eagerly anticipating his arrival. The city's police prefecture anticipates that up to 250,000 spectators will line the streets as Leo XIV makes his procession through Paris. Additionally, around 80,000 people have purchased tickets to witness the youth mass at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, located in the north of the city.

It has been over a decade since France last hosted a pope, with Benedict XVI visiting in 2008. Charles Mercier, director of studies in Catholicism at École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) in Paris, notes that Pope Francis had previously visited regions like Strasbourg, Marseille, and Corsica, which are somewhat peripheral to France.

However, a visit to the capital holds particular significance as it has not occurred in recent memory, thereby fueling excitement and enthusiasm among the populace. Another contributing factor to the widespread anticipation is Pope Leo XIV's popularity, which transcends French Catholicism. Elected in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV has positioned himself as a leader who is accessible and attentive to all.

During his two-day stay in Paris and the Île-de-France region, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Friday. Furthermore, he will engage with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps before proceeding to UNESCO. On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV is anticipated to visit Lourdes, where he will address seven survivors of sexual abuse within the Church, including a former student from the Notre Dame de Bétharram school in southwestern France.

In 2024, over 230 individuals had filed complaints regarding corporal punishment and sexual abuse at the Catholic institution.