The Pope Leo XIV is expected in France from September 25 to 28, 2026 for an apostolic journey that will take him to Paris, Lourdes and Metz. In the capital, the pope is set to visit the Élysée and UNESCO's headquarters, and to take part in several religious events open to the faithful... and to the public.
The Paris stay will unfold over two days, on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2026. Among the major events to note: a stop at Notre-Dame de Paris, a large youth vigil at the Stade de France, and, the next day, a solemn outdoor Mass on the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées. Not all gatherings will be freely accessible, and these large assemblies will inevitably be accompanied by traffic and transport restrictions in several sectors of the capital.
This visit by Leo XIV to France is all the more noteworthy as it follows the papacy of Francis, who had never before set foot in Paris as pope. His predecessor had already traveled to Marseille in 2023 and then to Corsica in 2024, notably not taking part in the December 2024 reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris.
He will therefore become the tenth pope to visit Paris. After two days in the capital, his journey will move on to Lourdes on 26 and 27 September, then to Metz on Monday, 28 September 2026.
Pope in Paris in the popemobile: how to reach the route by public transport?
Léon XIV glides through a stretch of Paris in the papamobile on Friday, September 25, 2026, from Notre-Dame-des-Champs to Place Saint-Michel. The public can access the perimeter from noon, ahead of the departure scheduled for around 4 p.m. But several stations along the route will close as early as 10 a.m.: here’s how to avoid being turned away … in front of a closed gate. [Read more]
Pope's Mass on the Champs-Élysées: how to get to the event by public transport?
Léon XIV celebrates a grand mass between Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. With hundreds of thousands of attendees expected and a notable number of stations closed, improvisation isn’t an option. What time to set off, which stations to steer clear of, and how much walking to expect? Here’s the rundown. [Read more]
Pope Leo XIV on the Champs-Élysées: what you need to know about the great open-air Mass
Pope Leo XIV will soon preside over a large open-air Mass in the heart of Paris. Schedules, access, logistics and security perimeter around the Champs-Élysées: here’s what you need to know ahead of the September 26 gathering. [Read more]
Aren't you coming to see the Pope? The neighborhoods to avoid for nights out in Paris on Friday and Saturday
Léon XIV is in Paris on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2026, with the papamobile, ceremonies, and a grand Mass on the agenda. Were you planning a museum visit, a lunch, or a shopping spree? Several neighborhoods will feature closures, checkpoints, and disrupted transport. Here are the areas where a casual walk could turn into an obstacle course. [Read more]
Pope in Paris: which monuments and tourist sites will be closed or hard to access on September 25 and 26
The arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Paris on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2026 will not only disrupt traffic. Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Tuileries... several tourist sites are closing their doors or becoming harder to reach. Before you head off to play tourist in Paris, here’s what you need to know. [Read more]
Why will bells across France ring for seven minutes this Friday, September 25 at 10 a.m.?
Don’t be surprised if the bells ring longer than usual this Friday, September 25, 2026. At exactly 10:00 a.m., churches across France are invited to toll for seven minutes, the moment Pope Leo XIV is due to land at Paris‑Orly Airport. A nationwide chime that will officially mark the start of his visit to France. [Read more]
Papal visit: The churches where you can watch the Mass at Place de la Concorde live in Paris and Île-de-France
The pope Leo XIV is expected in Paris on September 25 and 26, 2026 for two major public events: a youth vigil at the Stade de France, followed by an open-air Mass on Place de la Concorde. For those unable to attend in person, several churches in Paris and Île-de-France will offer live coverage of these moments. [Read more]
Pope in Paris: where to spot Leo XIV in the papamobile this Friday, September 25?
Pope Leo XIV will soon ride through the Left Bank in the papamobile. Route, times and public-access zones: here’s where to try to spot him on Friday. [Read more]
Pope Leo XIV’s vigil at the Stade de France: giant-screen broadcast planned for Friday in Paris
The big Stade de France vigil will also have a Paris relay point. Saint-Sulpice Church, in the 6th arrondissement, will broadcast the Leo XIV evening on Friday, September 25. [Read more]
Pope Leo XIV's visit: which channel to watch on and how to stream it?
France Télévisions, the official broadcaster of the state visit of Pope Leo XIV to France from September 25 to 28, 2026, is rolling out a wide TV and digital setup to follow the event everywhere. Here’s how to stay tuned and not miss a moment. [Read more]
Pope's visit to Paris: singers announced for the grand vigil at the Stade de France
Several artists join the lineup for the grand youth vigil at the Stade de France on September 25, 2026, in the presence of Pope Leo XIV. The musical program for this exceptional evening is starting to unfold. [Read more]
Pope Leo XIV at the Stade de France: everything you need to know about the great youth vigil
The grand youth vigil with Pope Leo XIV will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026 at the Stade de France. More than 80,000 young people aged 17 to 35 are expected for this major gathering that blends celebration, teaching and prayer. Program, schedule, registrations... here’s what we know. [Read more]
Visite du Pape à Paris : will people be able to attend the Mass on the Champs-Élysées without a reservation?
Haven’t you booked for the Pope Leo XIV’s grand Mass in Paris? Access to the Champs-Élysées and the Place de la Concorde will remain open without registration, within capacity limits, on Saturday, September 26, 2026. [Read more]
Pope's visit to Paris: several metro, RER stations and bus stops will close on Friday.
Subway, RER and bus services will be disrupted this Friday, September 25, ahead of the visit of Leon XIV. Several stations and bus stops in the 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissements are affected. Here are which ones are impacted and their schedules. [Read more]
Pope Leo XIV in Paris: Metro stations and bus lines disrupted on September 26
Metro and bus: plan your travel for September 26. The Pope's visit will trigger several closures and disruptions around Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, the Invalides, and the National Assembly. [Read more]
Pope's visit to Paris: these neighborhoods will be difficult to reach by car on September 25.
Several areas in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 15th districts will be affected by road closures and parking restrictions on Friday, September 25. [Read more]
Pope Leo XIV in Paris: traffic and parking restrictions, areas to avoid on Saturday, September 26
Motorists, better plan ahead: several areas in western-central Paris will be hard to reach on September 26 because of the Pope's Mass. Here are the streets and neighborhoods affected. [Read more]
Notre-Dame to close from Thursday: what's changing with the Pope's arrival in Paris
The cathedral will shut its doors starting September 24 for the visit of Leo XIV. Tours, island access and traffic will also be affected. [Read more]
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Dates and Opening Time
From September 25, 2026 to September 26, 2026
