Arrival of Pope Leo XIV in France and the beginning of his apostolic visit

Welcome at Orly Airport

The plane with the Pope, his associates and media representatives landed at Orly airport. Leo XIV was welcomed there by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. Bells rang in Parisian churches when the Pope arrived.

During a conversation with journalists aboard the plane, the pope explained that he was coming to France to "bring a message of peace, especially important at this moment" to the world.

Leo XIV also referred to the migration situation in Ceuta, which - as he emphasized - he has been observing since the beginning of the crisis. In his opinion, the problem has many causes.

The Pope also thanked media representatives for their work. Referring to the restrictions on some editorial offices, including CNN, in the White House, he emphasized that he was pleased with the presence of journalists during the papal trip. He also apologized for the situation in June when, after the plane crashed in Tenerife, he flew away without the media, who had to use another plane.

France, faith and contemporary challenges

For centuries, France has been referred to as the "eldest daughter of the Church." Although the country has been rapidly secularizing in recent decades, a phenomenon of spiritual revival has also been observed, including: growing number of adults getting baptized.

The motto of the papal visit is: "So that the world may have life." The Vatican announced that Leo XIV will talk about the challenges for France and Europe, the need for peace, environmental protection, education and the development of technology, including artificial intelligence.

Meeting with Macron and prayer with young people

On the first day, at 11:00, the Pope will go to the Elysée Palace for a conversation with President Macron. He will speak there before representatives of the authorities, society and the diplomatic corps.

Then he will visit the UNESCO headquarters, where at He will give a speech at 3:00 p.m. At 5 p.m. at Notre-Dame Cathedral, he will preside over vespers with the participation of the clergy and see the temple rebuilt after the 2019 fire.

In the evening, at 9 p.m., at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Leo XIV will meet 80,000 young people during a prayer vigil. They will be presented to the Pope by 39-year-old actor Mehdi Djaadi - the son of immigrants from Algeria, who converted from Islam to Catholicism in 2013.

In the following days, the Pope will visit the sanctuary in Lourdes and Metz.