By Vatican News
The program for Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France from Sep 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.
While Pope Francis travelled to Ajaccio, Corsica in Dec 2024, Marseille in Sep 2023, and Strasbourg in 2014, none were constituted an official state visit. Pope Leo’s will be the first since Pope Benedict XVI visited in Sep 2008.
Sep 25: From Rome to Paris
On the Friday morning, the Pope will depart from Rome Fiumicino International Airport at 7.50 am local time and fly to Paris Orly International Airport, landing at 10.00 am. After a welcome ceremony, the Pope will meet with the President of the Republic, Emanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace.
Afterwards, Pope Leo is scheduled to address the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps. In the afternoon of the first day, he will stop at the headquarters of UNESCO where he is due to deliver a speech.
The last two events of the evening will be the celebration of Vespers with clergy and consecrated men and women at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, where the Pontiff will give a homily.
Pope Leo will close out his first day in France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, dedicating his time to a prayer vigil with young people.
Sep 26: Paris and Lourdes
His second day in France will begin with a visit to the Maison Bakhita Center for social support and integration, run by the Archdiocese of Paris. Inaugurated in Sep 2021, the Center hosts or directly delivers targeted, innovative support and advocacy programs for people living in exile.
The project began as a response to Pope Francis’ call in Feb 2017 “to welcome, protect, promote and integrate” every migrant, which he said was “a duty of justice, civilization and solidarity”.
Then, Pope Leo will hold an audience with members of the provincial synodal assembly, catechumens and the newly baptized at the Institut Catholique de Paris (the Catholic University of Paris).
Before heading by plane to Lourdes, the Pope closes his time in Paris with Mass at the Place de la Concorde.
After arriving in Lourdes, he will take time to pray at the Grotto of the Apparitions at Massabielle at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Sep 27: Lourdes
The morning of his first full day in Lourdes, Pope Leo will speak with bishops of the French Episcopal Conference in the Saint Bernadette auditorium at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, followed by Mass at the Prairie or meadow of the Shrine.
He will then spend time meeting with and greeting 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.
Following that audience, the Pontiff will hold a private meeting with the contemplative religious sisters at the Carmelite Monastery of Lourdes. The night ends with the traditional torchlight Rosary procession at the Shrine.
Sep 28: Lourdes, Metz, Rome
The Pope’s final day in France sees him travel to Metz to attend an interreligious meeting and the “To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity” meeting at the “Robert Schuman” Conference Centre.
A last Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen concludes Pope Leo’s time in France. This Neo-Gothic church, also known as the “Lantern of God,” is renowned for its more than 6,500 square meters of stained-glass windows. Then, the Pope will head back to Rome on a 7pm flight from Metz-Nancy-Lorraine International Airport.
Motto and logo
The logo for the visit incorporates the stained-glass windows reminiscent of the rose windows of France’s Gothic cathedrals, symbolizing the beauty of communion and unity within the Church. At the center of the logo, according to an official statement, are a pointed Gothic arch and the Cross, expressing “the apostolic and liturgical dimension of the journey.” A dove, representing the Holy Spirit, carries an olive branch, a sign of peace for humanity.
Shades of blue, white, and red—together with the yellow-orange of light and the green of hope—combine the colors of France with those of the Vatican.
The chosen motto, “That the world may have life,” is described as “a call to hope and communion, encouraging people to overcome divisions in order to share peace, reconciliation, and fraternity, signs of new life in the world.” The statement adds that these words also express “the spirit in which the Church in France welcomes the Holy Father’s visit: with joy, openness, and a deep desire to bear witness to the life that comes from God.”
Meeting with survivors of abuse
At the same time as the release of the official program, the Holy See Press Office announced that, “during his upcoming apostolic journey to France, Pope Leo XIV will meet privately with several survivors of abuse in the Church.”
“The survivors themselves will be involved in preparing this meeting,” the statement said, adding that no further details regarding the date, location, or number of participants are being released at this time, though additional information may be provided later.
The meeting follows a similar encounter the Pope held with survivors during his visit to Spain. It carries particular significance in France, where the Church has been deeply shaken by the abuse crisis and has, in recent years, undertaken structural reforms and an ongoing process of accountability and healing.
Volunteers and Website
“Several months ago, we worked with the Pope to develop an initial draft of the program,” said Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille and President of the French Bishops’ Conference. “Since then, together with our collaborators at the Vatican, the Bishops’ Conference, the dioceses of Paris and Metz, and the Sanctuary of Lourdes, we have worked intensively to finalize every detail of this journey. It is a great joy to be able to share it today with all of France.”
Bishop Benoît Bertrand of Pontoise added: “Everything is being organized so that everyone who wishes to do so can take part in this exceptional event. Practical information and arrangements will be announced progressively as they are finalized.”
The Archdiocese of Paris plans to enlist 10,000 volunteers to assist with welcoming participants and organizing the papal visit.
The Church in France has also launched a dedicated website for the Pope’s visit, where people can register free of charge to serve as volunteers or make a donation in support of the event. – Vatican News
