OVERVIEW: SEPTEMBER 25-28, 2026
The program for Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France from September 25-28 has officially been released. The four-day visit will be packed as the Pope will travel to Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes, and Metz before returning to Rome. This is an important moment in Franco-Papal relations.
SEPTEMBER 25 – 26
On September 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will travel from Rome to Paris. His second day will be spent in Paris and Lourdes. The second day will include visit to the Maison Bakhita Center for social support and integration, run by the Archdiocese of Paris. Pope Leo will also meet with members of the provincial synodal assembly, catechumens and the newly baptized at the Institut Catholique de Paris (the Catholic University of Paris). Late in the day, after offering Mass, Pope Leo will travel to Lourdes where he will pray at the Grotto of the Apparitions at Massabielle at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
SEPTEMBER 27
Pope Leo XIV’s entire third day (September 27) will be spent in Lourdes. He will first talk to bishops of the French Episcopal Conference in the Saint Bernadette auditorium at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Pope Leo will then offer Mass at the Prairie or meadow of the Shrine. Next, Pope Leo will then meet with the staff and sick community of the Accueil Notre Dame—a specialized residential healthcare facility and welcome center where pilgrims from around the world come and stay during their pilgrimage. After that, the Pope will meet with the contemplative religious sisters at the Carmelite Monastery of Lourdes. The day will end with a torchlight Rosary procession at the Shrine.
SEPTEMBER 28
On the fourth day, September 28, the Pope’s final day in France, he will travel to Metz. While there, the Pope Leo XIV will attend an interreligious meeting. Before leaving for Rome that night, the Pope will offer Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen (“Lantern of God”).
CONCLUSION
The visit has a number of purposes, including, but not limited to, religious ceremony, diplomatic dialogue, and cultural exchange. Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France reflects the continuing role of the Holy See in European affairs. His visit also reflects the evolving stance of the French state toward the Papacy.
Please let me know if you enjoy posts about Pope Leo XIV’s papacy.
Leave a Reply