Visite du pape Léon XIV à Paris : le pape's papamobile, Notre-Dame, Stade de France... the itinerary is taking shape

Pope Leo XIV will make a stop in Paris on September 25 and 26, 2026, before continuing his apostolic journey to Lourdes and then to Metz. In the capital, his schedule is taking shape around several major events: a papamobile ride, Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris, a youth vigil at the Stade de France, and a large open-air Mass between the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées.

The Pope Leo XIV is slated to visit France from 25 to 28 September 2026 for an apostolic journey that will include stops in Paris, Lourdes and Metz. In the capital, the pontiff is due to visit the headquarters of the UNESCO, in the 7th arrondissement, but will also take part in several major religious moments open to the faithful.

The Parisian stay will unfold over two days, on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2026. On Friday, Pope Leo XIV will ride a papamobile through the streets of Paris to meet the French. He will then head to Notre-Dame de Paris, where he will celebrate the Solemn Vespers with priests, deacons and their spouses, the consecrated, and seminarians from across France.

The evening will continue at the Stade de France, where the sovereign pontiff will meet the youth (17-35 years) and preside over a large prayer vigil. Between 60,000 and 80,000 people could participate in this gathering, according to estimates released by Mgr Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris. The following day, Saturday, September 26, Pope Leo XIV will lead a solemn open-air Mass in the early afternoon, on the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées. About 400,000 people could be anticipated for this event, according to figures circulated by the media so far.

Pope Leo XIV's schedule in Paris

Friday, September 25, 2026

Late afternoon: a papamobile tour through the streets of Paris.
Early evening: solemn Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris, attended by priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians.
Night: a major youth prayer vigil at the Stade de France, with 60,000 to 80,000 expected participants.

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Early afternoon: a large outdoor Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées (about 400,000 people expected).

This visit by Léon XIV to France is all the more notable as it comes after the papacy of Francis, who had never carried out a state visit to Paris. His predecessor went to Marseille in 2023, then to Corsica in 2024, but he did not take part in the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris. For Léon XIV, this visit could therefore mark a new chapter in the relations between the Vatican, France and the capital.

Following Paris, Pope Leo XIV's trip is set to continue to Lourdes, then to Metz, the final stops of his visit to France.

The exact schedule, precise venues, access arrangements for the celebrations, potential broadcast options and any traffic restrictions will be announced gradually. The Diocese of Paris is already calling on residents of Paris and the Île-de-France region to prepare for these major events, which are expected to draw a large crowd for the first official visit of Pope Leo XIV to France.

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