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Pope’s visit to France likely to attract 1M people, with Mass and vigil in Paris and Lourdes trip
The four-day trip will include a 27 million euro fundraising effort, meetings with abuse survivors and migrants, and public events expected to draw more than 1 million people.
Pope Leo XIV will begin a four-day official visit to France on Sept. 25, marking the first papal state trip to the country in 18 years and expected to attract more than 1 million people.
Leo's Paris itinerary begins with a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace, followed by a UNESCO speech, vespers at Notre Dame Cathedral, and travel to Lourdes for spiritual engagement.
Organizers expect at least 500,000 people along the Champs and near the Arc de Triomphe during a popemobile procession, with the Mass displayed on 42 giant screens and the visit budgeted at 27 million euros .
Leo will visit Metz to address European unity at a center named for Robert Schuman, while in Lourdes meeting seven survivors of sexual abuse; Pierre-Antoine Bozo, spokesperson for the bishops conference, said the Church is providing support.
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the bishops conference, said the trip is "important for the country hosting him, but more broadly & the pope will also have very important things to say to the entire world." Leo will travel to Latin America in November.