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Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Paris on September 25 and 26, 2026

Q: Which Pope has previously visited Paris?

John Paul II visited Paris in 1980 (giving his famous speech at Le Bourget) and then in 1997 for World Youth Days , where he beatified Frédéric Ozanam at Notre-Dame de Paris . More recently, Benedict XVI undertook an apostolic journey from 12 to 15 September 2008, which included a speech at the Collège des Bernardins . Léon XIV will be the tenth pope to visit Paris.

Q: Who is the current pope following the death of Pope Francis?

Following the death of Pope Francis in April 2025, the American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on 8 May 2025, taking the name Leo XIV . He becomes the first American pope in history and the first Augustinian to ascend to the papacy. A former prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he champions synodality and dialogue with the modern world.

Tout Paris, Paris - 75 Paris

From 25 to 26 September 2026

Find out more in this article:

Detailed programme of the Pope’s visit to Paris and France
Frequently asked questions

🌟 THE POPE IN PARIS IN PICTURES 🌟

Le Pape de dos — © Cristiano Fronteddu - iStock

Pope Leo XIV will visit Paris on September 25 and 26, 2026, as part of his trip to France

A historic event in Paris: Pope Leo XIV will make an official visit on September 25 and 26, 2026. This apostolic journey—the first by a pontiff to the capital since 2008—will feature several highlights. Tourists and the faithful can catch a glimpse of the Holy Father as he passes by in the popemobile or attend the grand solemn outdoor Mass scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Although Paris is the starting point of this trip, the Holy Father will then continue his national tour: he will travel to Lourdes on the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2026, and on Sunday, September 27, 2026, for special moments of prayer, before concluding his trip in Metz on Monday, September 28, 2026.

🎯 Detailed programme for the Pope’s visit to Paris

The programme is currently being finalised and will be updated on pape-france.fr as official announcements are made.

📌 Friday 25 September 2026: official welcome and Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Paris for a busy first day: a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, followed by a journey in the popemobile through the streets of Paris to meet the French people. In the late afternoon, he will celebrate Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral with the French clergy (priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians). A prayer vigil with young people is also planned for the evening at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, where 75,000 people are expected to attend.

10am: the Pope’s arrival at Paris-Orly Airport
11am: visit to the President of the Republic at the Élysée Palace and meeting with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps
3pm: visit to the UNESCO headquarters. The visit is reserved for delegations and will be broadcast live
5.15pm: celebration of Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris
(by invitation only and broadcast live), followed by a procession (open to the public) on the forecourt of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
9pm: prayer vigil with young people (aged 17–35) at the Stade de France. Registration opens on Monday 10 August 2026 at midday via the dedicated platform

📌 Saturday 26 September 2026: open-air Mass in Paris

A solemn open-air Mass is held in the early afternoon between the Place de la Concorde and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to welcome the 500,000 people expected to attend.

9am: visit to the Maison Bakhita support and social integration centre, in the 18th arrondissement
10.15am: time for meeting and discussion at the Catholic Institute of Paris
3pm: solemn open-air Mass on the Place de la Concorde and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Registration opens from Monday 10 August 2026 at midday on the dedicated platform
5.15pm: departure from Paris-Orly to Lourdes

📌 Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 September 2026: stops in Lourdes and Metz

On Saturday 26 September 2026, the Pope will leave Paris for Lourdes, where he will preside over an open-air Mass. On Monday 28 September 2026, he will travel to Metz for the final leg of his apostolic journey in France.

7.40pm: prayer at the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes on 26 September 2026
11am: Mass on the Meadow of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes on 27 September 2026
9pm: recitation of the Holy Rosary and torchlight procession on 27 September 2026
7.40am: departure for Metz on 28 September 2026
4pm: Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Metz on 28 September 2026
6.30pm: Farewell ceremony at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine International Airport on 28 September 2026
7pm: departure for Rome

💡Summary table of the stages of the Pope’s visit to Paris and France

Date	Time	Venue / Event
Friday 25 Sept. 2026	10am	Arrival at Orly Airport
	11am	Meeting with the President of the Republic at the Élysée Palace
	3pm	Visit to UNESCO headquarters
	5.15pm	Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris followed by a stroll across the forecourt
	9pm	Prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
Saturday 26 Sept. 2026	9am	Visit to the Maison Bakhita (18th arrondissement)
	10.15am	Meeting at the Catholic Institute of Paris
	3pm	Solemn Mass (Place de la Concorde / Champs-Élysées)
	5.15pm	Departure from Paris-Orly to Lourdes
	7.40pm	Prayer at the Grotto of Massabielle (Lourdes)
Sunday 27 Sept. 2026	11am	Mass on the Meadow at the Sanctuary of Lourdes
Sunday 27 Sept. 2026	9pm	Prayer of the Holy Rosary and torchlight procession (Lourdes)
Monday 28 Sept. 2026	7.40am	Departure for Metz
	4pm	Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Metz
	6.30pm/7pm	Farewell ceremony and final departure for Rome

📌 Practical information on Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Paris

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will be closed to the public from 24 to 26 September 2026
The Towers of Notre-Dame de Paris will be closed to the public from 24 to 28 September 2026 inclusive

📍 The places Pope Leo XIV visited and prayed at in Paris

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris et son trésor

Church and other places of worship

6 parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II

Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral: a restored masterpiece in the heart of the capital. Situated in the historic center …

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Stade de France

Stadium

Porte H - Avenue Jules Rimet

Immerse yourself in the heart of the action and relive the Stade de France's greatest moments with a guided …

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Place de la Concorde

Place (square) (e.g. de la Concorde)

Place de la Concorde

The Place de la Concorde lies at the foot of the Champs-Élysées avenue and borders the Tuileries gardens. Today, it …

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Street/neighbourhood of interest

De l'Arc de Triomphe à la place de la Concorde

Nicknamed ‘the most beautiful avenue in the world’, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a must when visiting the …

Palais de l’Élysée

Monument

55 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

The Marquise de Pompadour made it her Parisian home before bequeathing it to Louis XV. From one owner to the next, …

Maison de l'Unesco

Monument

7 place de Fontenoy

Located near the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire is the Maison de l'Unesco, the headquarters of the honourable …

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❓Frequently asked questions

When is Pope Leo XIV coming to Paris?

Pope Leo XIV is expected in Paris on 25 and 26 September 2026, as part of an apostolic visit to France from 25 to 28 September 2026. After his stop in Paris, he will travel to Lourdes on the evening of 26 September, then to Metz on 28 September 2026.
💡 Practical information: Find all the official news regarding Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France on the pape-france.fr website. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, feel free to sign up for the newsletter or WhatsApp alerts.

Which Pope has previously visited Paris?

John Paul II visited Paris in 1980 (giving his famous speech at Le Bourget) and then in 1997 for World Youth Days, where he beatified Frédéric Ozanam at Notre-Dame de Paris. More recently, Benedict XVI undertook an apostolic journey from 12 to 15 September 2008, which included a speech at the Collège des Bernardins. Léon XIV will be the tenth pope to visit Paris.

Who is the current pope following the death of Pope Francis?

Following the death of Pope Francis in April 2025, the American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on 8 May 2025, taking the name Leo XIV. He becomes the first American pope in history and the first Augustinian to ascend to the papacy. A former prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he champions synodality and dialogue with the modern world.

How old is Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago. During his visit to France in September 2026, he will therefore be 71 years old. Despite this relatively young age for a pontiff, he possesses a wealth of international pastoral experience, notably thanks to his years as a missionary in Peru and at the head of the Order of Saint Augustine.

What is Pope Leo XIV’s nationality?

Pope Leo XIV is an American national. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he grew up in the village of Dolton, in a family of Italian-American origin. According to some genealogical research, he is also said to have Quebecois ancestry on his mother’s side, being a descendant of Pierre Boucher, founder of Boucherville and the first settler of New France to be ennobled by Louis XIV.
💡 Good to know: for all official information on Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France, visit the website pape-france.fr. You can also sign up to receive updates by email or WhatsApp.