Hundreds of Thousands Expected in Paris for Pope Leo XIV's Visit to France

Pope Leo XIV commenced a four-day visit to France on Friday, with the main event being a grand Mass scheduled for Saturday afternoon in central Paris. An altar has been erected on the Place de la Concorde, and a significant area around the Champs-Élysées has been cordoned off by police. Approximately 600,000 Catholic faithful are anticipated to fill the avenue up to the Arc de Triomphe and beyond.

French President Emmanuel Macron greeted the Pope at Orly airport on Friday morning and is scheduled to hold discussions with him at the Élysée Palace later, focusing on geopolitical issues and artificial intelligence (AI). Macron will not attend any of the Pope's Masses, largely due to France's strict separation of state and religion. However, his wife Brigitte and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu are expected to be present.

Highlights

• Pope Leo XIV began a four-day official visit to France on Friday.
• A major Mass in Paris's Place de la Concorde is expected to attract nearly 600,000 attendees.
• President Emmanuel Macron met the Pope and will discuss geopolitical issues and AI with him.
• The Pope's itinerary includes visits to Notre-Dame Cathedral, a gathering with young people, and meetings with migrants and sexual abuse victims.
• A Mass in Lourdes is planned for Sunday, with 150,000 people registered to attend.

Details

The Pope's schedule is packed. On Friday afternoon, he will travel by Popemobile to Notre-Dame Cathedral, followed by an evening gathering with 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in northern Paris. On Sunday, 150,000 people have signed up for a Mass at the Pyrenean sanctuary of Lourdes. Monday will see the Pope in Metz, northeast France, where he will honor Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union and a candidate for beatification.

During his visit, Pope Leo will also meet with a group of migrants in Paris and some victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy members in Lourdes. Élysée officials dismissed reports of tensions between Macron and the Vatican team regarding the ceremonial aspects of the visit. However, they confirmed that the Pope declined Macron's suggestion of a meeting with artisans who helped rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral, citing a tight agenda.

Why it matters

This visit occurs at a time when, despite France's secular nature, there are signs of increasing interest in religious traditions. The number of adult baptisms has more than doubled in five years, reaching 10,000 in 2025, indicating a growing spiritual search. According to Cardinal François Bustillo, people are seeking something to fill a void, and the Pope's presence serves as a reminder of their own roots. This visit is significant both for France's historically complex relationship with the Catholic Church and for the broader spiritual quest observed across Europe.