🎯 Detailed programme for the Pope’s visit to Paris
All events are free! Some events require you to register for free in advance on the dedicated platform.
📌 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. To mark this historic occasion, the church bells across France will ring for seven minutes at 10am
- 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
- From 4pm to5 pm: the Pope’s journey in the Popemobile from Notre-Dame-des-Champs Church to Place Saint-Michel, via Boulevard Montparnasse and Boulevard Saint-Michel. From midday: gates open and the festivities begin with hymns, music and a street party whilst awaiting the Popemobile. Free access to security checkpoints from midday, no booking required. The church bells in Paris will ring at 5pm. Broadcast live on KTO TV
- 5.15pm: celebration of Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris (by invitation only and broadcast live on KTO TV), followed by a procession (open to the public) on the forecourt of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
- From 7.30pm to 11pm: prayer vigil with young people (aged 17–35) at the Stade de France. A special highlight of this vigil was the display of the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil. Doors open: 5.30pm. Prologue: 6.30pm. Registration opens on Monday 10 August 2026 at midday via the dedicated platform. Broadcast live on KTO TV
💡Did you know?
Pope Leo XIV spent the night at the Apostolic Nunciature, situated at 10 Avenue du Président Wilson in the 16th arrondissement, which serves as both the Holy See’s embassy in France and a religious house.
📌 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, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Place de l’Étoile and Avenue de la Grande Armée. Registration opens from Monday 10 August 2026 at midday on the dedicated platform). Registration closes on 16 September 2026 at 6pm. 600,000 registrants! Broadcast live on KTO TV. Doors open at 9am. The service ends at 4.30pm. Water bottles and thermos flasks, umbrellas, food, small rucksacks of less than 25 litres, pushchairs for children under 6 years old… are permitted. However, the following are prohibited: animals (except guide or assistance dogs), helmets, bicycles, scooters, suitcases and luggage, rucksacks larger than 25 litres, folding chairs and stools (except for elderly people or those with disabilities)...
- 5.45pm: 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 |
| 4pm |
The Popemobile will travel from Notre-Dame des Champs to Place Saint-Michel, via the Boulevards du Montparnasse and Saint-Michel. Duration: 1 hour. Access from midday |
| 5.15pm |
Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris followed by a stroll across the forecourt |
| From 7.30pm to 11pm |
Prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France (Saint-Denis). Doors open at 5.30pm |
| 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) |
| 5.45pm |
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 |
| 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 |
📌Impact on the opening hours of Notre-Dame de Paris, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, the Arc de Triomphe, shops and traffic restrictions
Notre-Dame de Paris
Grand Palais, Petit Palais and Arc de Triomphe
- The Grand Palais will close exceptionally at 9pm on 25 September 2026 and for the whole day on 26 September 2026 at the request of the Prefecture of Police, due to the papal visit
- The Petit Palais will be closed exceptionally all day on 26 September 2026 at the request of the Prefecture of Police, due to the papal visit
- The Arc de Triomphe will be exceptionally closed all day on 26 September 2026
Shops in the 8th arrondissement
- Friday 25 September 2026 from 10am to 2pm: closure of the relevant establishments on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, between avenue Matignon and rue d’Aguesseau
- Saturday 26 September 2026 from 2am to 8pm: closure of shops, bars, restaurants and takeaways within the relevant security perimeter
Traffic on the Place de la Concorde
- From 2 to 16 September 2026: it will not be possible to drive from south to north across the Place de la Concorde (a diversion via the Quai des Tuileries is recommended), but north and west crossings will remain open
- From 16 September 2026: The square and its surrounding area will be completely closed to all modes of transportation, motorized or not (with the exception of the Seine riverbank). The Avenue des Champs-Élysées will be closed between Clémenceau and the Concorde, and the Rue Royale will be partially closed
- 26 September 2026 (day of the solemn mass): complete closure of the Concorde/Champs-Élysées area. Diversions: Avenue Gabriel, Cours de la Reine, Tuileries, Pont de la Concorde. Public transport will be at full capacity (Metro lines 1, 12 and 13)
- Your journey: use the Quai des Tuileries, Avenue Winston Churchill and the Pont Alexandre III, and avoid Place de la Concorde, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Rue Royale and the Île de la Cité (on 25 September 2026)
- Between midday on 28 September and midnight on 10 October: traffic restrictions and diversions will remain in place to allow for the dismantling of installations on the Place de la Concorde
Disruption on 25 September 2026: the Pope in Paris
- Disruption around the Élysée Palace, UNESCO, Notre-Dame and the Stade de France
- Temporary closures during the passage of the popemobile
Closure of metro and RER stations
- On 25 September 2026 from 10am (papamobile procession): Montparnasse, Vavin, Port Royal, Luxembourg, La Sorbonne, Odéon, Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame and Cité
- From 25 September 2026 at 10pm until 26 September 2026 at 8pm (open-air mass): closure of the following stations: Concorde, Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George V, Charles-de-Gaulle - Étoile, Alma - Marceau, Iéna (from midday), Kléber (from midday) and Argentine (from midday)
The Police Prefecture’s Information Package
The Police Prefecture has created a special information package to help you plan your travel (maps of security, traffic, and parking zones) during Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Paris
