Pope Leo XIV will begin a four-day Apostolic Journey to France on Friday, September 25, with a packed program that will take him to Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes and Metz.
According to the official Vatican schedule, the Pontiff will arrive at Paris Orly Airport on Friday morning before traveling to the Élysée Palace, where he will meet French President Emmanuel Macron. He will subsequently address representatives of the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
Later in the day, Pope Leo will visit the headquarters of UNESCO, where he is expected to address issues including artificial intelligence.
In the afternoon, the Pope will celebrate Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and seminarians at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
His first day will conclude at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, where he will participate in a prayer vigil with young people.
Mass at Place de la Concorde
On Saturday morning, Pope Leo will visit the Maison Bakhita Centre for Social Support and Integration before meeting members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly, catechumens and newly baptized Catholics at the Institut Catholique de Paris.
At 3 p.m., he will celebrate Mass at the Place de la Concorde in central Paris. Around 600,000 people have reportedly expressed interest in attending the celebration.
Later that afternoon, the Pope will fly from Paris to Lourdes, arriving in the evening. His first engagement there will be prayer at the Grotto of the Apparitions at Massabielle.
Sunday in Lourdes
Pope Leo will spend Sunday at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of the world’s most prominent Catholic pilgrimage destinations.
He will meet the bishops of the French Episcopal Conference before celebrating Mass at the shrine at 11 a.m.
During his visit to France, the Pontiff is also expected to meet privately with seven people who were sexually abused by members of the clergy.
Peace and unity in Europe
On Monday, Pope Leo will leave Lourdes for Metz in northeastern France.
There, he will participate in an interreligious meeting at the Robert Schuman Conference Centre, followed by a meeting entitled “To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity.”
He will conclude his public engagements in France by celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen in Metz at 4 p.m.
A farewell ceremony will take place at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport before the Pope departs for Rome on Monday evening, bringing his four-day visit to France to a close.
Source: ANA-MPA, translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
