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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:

Provisional programme for 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 visit, the Holy Father will then continue his national tour: he will travel to Lourdes on Sunday, September 27, 2026, for a special time of prayer, before concluding his trip in Metz on Monday, September 28, 2026.

🎯 Provisional 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.

📌 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. Other events are planned: an interfaith gathering, a visit to the Jeanne-Garnier Hospital and to the Catholic Institute of Paris.

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

On Sunday 27 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.

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

Date	Venue	Main event	Estimated timetable
Friday 25 September	Paris and Saint-Denis	Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris; Mass at the Stade de France	Late afternoon
Saturday 26 September	Paris: Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées	Solemn open-air Mass	Early afternoon
Sunday 27 September	Lourdes	Open-air Mass	To be confirmed
Monday 28 September	Metz	Final leg of the journey	To be confirmed

📍 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 …

❓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 27 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.