'A mass for 600,000': What you need to know about Pope Leo's visit to France

Pope Leo XIV is set to make his first visit to France on Friday, with stops in Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes, and Metz. The four-day trip is expected to draw large crowds, with 600,000 people registering to join an outdoor Mass on Saturday near Paris' Avenue des Champs-Élysées, according to retired French Bishop Marc Stenger.

The visit comes at a time when the Church is seeking to repair its standing in France after a 2021 report on child abuse by priests sparked nationwide shock. During the trip, Pope Leo will meet with abuse survivors and address French, UN, and European leaders in separate events. His agenda includes speeches to President Emmanuel Macron and other French leaders at the Élysée Palace, as well as to staff at the UNESCO headquarters.

Pope Leo's visit has generated significant interest in France, with Catholic leaders hoping it will help the Church regain its footing in the country. The Pope is also expected to discuss topics such as artificial intelligence during his visit, although details of these discussions are not specified.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Local France, Daily Maverick — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.