Paris – The Bishops’ Conference of France (CEF) says Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming four‑day pilgrimage to France is set to attract over one million participants. The historic state visit, the first in 18 years, begins on Sept. 25 and will showcase the Catholic faith’s role in French public life.
Paris events and presidential meeting
On the first day the Pope will meet President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace before delivering a speech at UNESCO headquarters. A popemobile procession will travel a 2.5‑kilometer route through central Paris, with up to 150,000 people expected to line the streets as church bells ring throughout the city.
Later, Leo XIV will celebrate vespers at Notre Dame Cathedral and conclude the day with a prayer vigil for young people at the national stadium. The following day an open‑air Mass is planned for Place de la Concorde, where organizers anticipate at least 500,000 worshippers along the Champs‑Élysées and near the Arc de Triomphe, with the ceremony broadcast on 42 giant screens.
Outreach to migrants and survivors
During the Paris stop the Pope will visit Maison Bakhita, a social‑support center for migrants, and meet recently baptized Catholics. He will then travel to Lourdes, the famed pilgrimage site in the Pyrenees, to meet seven survivors of sexual abuse and to participate in the sanctuary’s rosary and torchlight procession.
Lourdes, Metz and European dimension
After Lourdes, Leo XIV will head to Metz near France’s borders with Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany. There he will speak on Europe’s roots, peace and unity at a conference center named for Robert Schuman, a Catholic statesman instrumental in European integration. A popemobile ride will take him past Metz’s Gothic cathedral, noted for its extensive stained‑glass windows.
Costs and support
The CEF estimates the pilgrimage will cost the Catholic Church about €27 million. A fundraising campaign launched this summer has already secured €5.5 million, while the French state will provide security forces and public services to facilitate the influx of visitors.
Pope Leo XIV’s itinerary this year also includes trips to Monaco, four African nations, Spain and the Canary Islands, with a first‑time Latin American tour slated for November.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
