The Vatican has released the official program for the apostolic journey that Pope Leo XIV will make to France between September 25 and 28, 2026. It is a packed itinerary with high symbolic significance, during which the Pontiff will deliver ten speeches and four homilies, speaking entirely in French.

The papal journey will articulate three major geopolitical, spiritual and European memory axes through three fundamental destinations: Paris, Lourdes and Metz.

Paris: diplomacy at the Élysée Palace, a UNESCO milestone, and youthful faith

The first day of the trip, September 25, will concentrate the institutional and pastoral core of the visit in the French capital:

• State Meeting: Leo XIV will hold a meeting at the Élysée Palace with President Emmanuel Macron, after which he will deliver his first speech before civil authorities and the diplomatic corps.
• International event: The Pope will visit UNESCO headquarters, where he will deliver a message of global scope to the international community.
• Reunion with the local Church: In the rebuilt Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Holy Father will preside over the prayer of Vespers together with bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and consecrated persons.
• Massive vigil: At 9:00 p.m., he will preside over a prayer vigil with thousands of young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Listening and healing: private meeting with victims of abuse

One of the central moments of the French trip will be a private meeting with victims of abuse within the Church. The Holy See Press Office has emphasized that the victims themselves are actively participating in the preparation and organization of this space for dialogue, listening, and support.

Lourdes and Metz: Marian devotion and the origins of Europe

After its visit to the capital, the apostolic journey will continue to two other key locations in France:

• Lourdes (September 27): The Pope will travel to the famous Marian shrine, where he will lead the traditional torchlight procession alongside thousands of pilgrims and the sick.
• Metz (September 28): In the final leg of his itinerary, Leo XIV will pay tribute to Robert Schuman, considered one of the founding fathers of European integration, reaffirming Europe’s role and vocation in the contemporary world.