On Friday, September 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will traverse a section of the Left Bank in a papal mobile. The route, open to the public, links Notre-Dame-des-Champs to Place Saint-Michel, mostly via Boulevard du Montparnasse and Boulevard Saint-Michel. The City estimates about 2.5 km of pedestrianized streets for this stroll.
The issue is that several stations located precisely along the route will be shut starting at 10 a.m., while a safety perimeter is set up from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. From 10 a.m. to noon, only residents and authorized beneficiaries may enter; the public can access the area starting at noon. In other words, picking a station at random on Friday afternoon could end with several hundred meters of extra walking — or even with a station closed right in front of you.
This plan aligns with the official measures announced to date. Last‑minute adjustments to transport and access to the perimeter may still be made; this article will be updated if RATP, the Prefecture of Police, or the City publish new guidelines.
From 10 a.m., Île-de-France Mobilités and the City of Paris announce the closure of several stations and train stations located along or near the route:
The Saint-Michel station, for its part, is already closed as part of works unrelated to the papal visit. Put differently, aiming straight for Saint-Michel Boulevard by metro quickly leaves you with few alternatives.
Another detail to note on the Montparnasse side: entrances 5, 6 and 8 at the Montparnasse–Bienvenüe station will be closed from 10 a.m. The station remains open, but you’ll need to use a different entrance to reach the area.
Pope's visit to Paris: the papamobile route to know before Friday
Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Montparnasse, Saint-Michel… The pope’s passage is drawing near. On Friday, Pope Leo XIV will traverse a stretch of the Left Bank in the papamobile before the crowds: here is the route and the access points. [Read more]
To avoid walking the entire perimeter, start by deciding where you’d like to see Léon XIV go by.
You can aim for:
Then choose a station that sits back from the route rather than one that’s listed as closed. The aim isn’t to gain 300 meters on paper only to lose them at a blocked entrance.
The pope's visit isn’t limited to the papamobile. Other closures will take place throughout the day in connection with his official movements, notably Duroc and Saint-François-Xavier from 10 a.m., followed by École Militaire and Ségur from 1 p.m. So be sure to check the full schedule if your route crosses the 6th, 7th or 15th arrondissements.
The public can enter the papamobile perimeter from noon. The walkabout is set to begin around 4 p.m.. Arriving early remains your best bet, especially since security checks and pedestrian routes can lengthen your trip.
The latest trap: arriving by bus to squeeze out a few extra metres. Lines that cross secured sectors can be diverted or restricted. For this meeting, the strategy of taking the metro or RER to an still-open station and walking the rest remains the most robust option.
And no, the nearest station on Google Maps won't necessarily be your best bet on Friday!
Pope's visit to Paris: the papamobile route to know before Friday
