Pope Leo's visit to France to focus on faith, culture, Europe

Pope Leo XIV’s September 25–28 Apostolic Journey to France will include meetings with civil authorities, young people and the Church, a visit to … From September 25 to 28, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will visit France, embarking on his fifth international Apostolic Journey since the beginning of his pontificate. During a press conference held at the Holy See’s Press Office on Friday, September 18, the Director of the Press Office, Matteo Bruni, illustrated the Pope’s Journey, which will take him to Paris, Lourdes and the northeastern city of Metz. France will be the ninth country Pope Leo visits (tenth if counting the Pastoral visit to San Marino in August 2026), and it will include meetings with the authorities and state representatives of the country, encounters with young people and the local clergy, visits to charity initiatives, a visit to UNESCO headquarters and more.

All his addresses, homilies and pronouncements will be in French, except his speech at UNESCO, which will be partly in French and partly in English, and his speech at the “To the roots of Europe for Peace and Unity” meeting in Metz, which will be entirely in English. Bruni spoke about some of the themes that may emerge from this Journey. He explained that the Pope will be meeting with the French society, “its people, its culture,