- Pope Leo XIV arrived in Paris on Friday and met privately with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.
- During his visit, he delivered a speech at UNESCO headquarters, where he called for ethical discernment in technology and an AI slowdown.
- He held a prayer service at the newly-restored Cathedral of Notre-Dame, marking the first papal visit since the 2019 fire.
- On Sunday, he will visit Lourdes, where he is scheduled to meet privately with seven abuse victims.
- He will conclude his trip on Monday with a visit to Metz, the birthplace of EU founding father Robert Schuman.
- This visit marks the first formal papal visit to France since Pope Benedict XVI in September 2008.
- French bishops announced the visit’s theme as "That the world may have life", coinciding with an increase in new baptisms in the country.
- So far this year, more than 21,000 adults have joined the Church in France, driven by 18 to 25-year-olds.
Pope Leo XIV's four-day Apostolic Journey to France commenced with a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the lyse9e Palace. The Pope emphasized France's historical role in promoting peace and multilateralism, stating, "May France, faithful to its traditional values, work for a peace that is unarmed and disarming..."1
He praised the nation's cultural contributions, noting, "The many brilliant French scholars who were also faithful Catholics demonstrates clearly how the sciences and the arts... can contribute to the good of humanity..." He also expressed gratitude for France's support in education and humanitarian efforts in the Middle East, particularly in financing over 260 schools and universities.
The Pope highlighted the importance of ethical discernment in the face of advancing technology, warning that “When science and technology are not guided by a deeper wisdom... they can seriously divert them from the greater good to which they aspire.”
This visit marks the first formal papal trip to France since Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, coinciding with a rise in adult baptisms, particularly among 18 to 25-year-olds. Retired Bishop Marc Stenger remarked, “Pope Leo's visit to France has sparked a real tidal wave of interest.” The Pope is scheduled to deliver 15 speeches, including one at UNESCO, and will conclude his visit in Metz on September 28, 2026.679
“The visit marks the first formal papal trip to France since Benedict XVI in 2008, with over 21,000 adults joining the Church this year. Pope Leo will also meet privately with seven abuse victims in Lourdes, a move the Vatican calls unusual.”
Fox News
