The papal plane carrying the Holy Father took to the skies on the morning of September 25th, bound for Paris’s Orly Airport, officially beginning the fifth international apostolic journey of Leo XIV’s pontificate. This pastoral visit to France—the first by a successor of Peter to the country in almost two decades—has generated enormous anticipation both within the Church and at the European institutional level, drawing thousands of faithful and observers eager to follow every detail of his journey.

The first leg of this trip on French soil packed a few hours with intense high-level institutional and diplomatic activity. Upon his arrival, the Pope went directly to the Élysée Palace for a private meeting with the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, followed by his traditional address to state authorities, the diplomatic corps, and representatives of French civil society.

One of the most significant moments of this opening day took place in the early afternoon with the Pope’s official visit to UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Addressing the directors and delegates of this international organization, Leo XIV delivered a highly anticipated speech focused on the contemporary challenges of education, the preservation of shared cultural heritage, and the building of lasting peace based on human dignity.

The Parisian itinerary for this first day continues with profound spiritual significance and a focus on heritage reconciliation as the group travels to the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. There, the Bishop of Rome presides over the solemn celebration of Vespers alongside the local clergy, bishops, and consecrated persons, inside a temple that once again pulsates with life after the complex and meticulous restoration work that returned the splendor to its Gothic architecture following the devastating fire of 2019.

The busy opening day will conclude in the evening with a massive gathering and a powerful expression of ecclesial communion at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. At this grand sports arena, thousands of young people from all over France have come together to participate in a mass prayer vigil with the Pope, transforming sport and youth into a vibrant cry of collective hope.

With this institutional and youth-focused opening in Paris, Leo XIV lays the foundation for a four-day trip that will continue to broaden horizons in the following days before extending his pilgrimage to other key locations in the country. The visit not only underscores the demographic and pastoral vitality of the Church in France, but also reaffirms the role of Vatican diplomacy in major forums of contemporary thought and culture.