Visit of Pope Leo XIV to France: a diplomatic and spiritual program
The sovereign pontiff begins a four-day visit to France, marked by a speech at UNESCO and a meeting with young people at the Stade de France.
Quick Look
- Pope Leo XIV arrived in France for a four-day visit.
- Welcomed by Emmanuel Macron, he gave a speech at UNESCO advocating international cooperation and is due to meet young people during a vigil at the Stade de France.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Pope Leo XIV makes his first visit to France, including stops in Paris and Saint-Denis. This is the first visit by a pope to UNESCO since that of John Paul II in 1980.
White smoke for Leo XIV's trip to French soil. The American pope's plane landed in Paris around 10 a.m. (French time), Friday, September 25. The church bells of France rang for seven minutes to celebrate his coming. He was welcomed on the tarmac by Emmanuel Macron, who then received him at the Elysée. “It is a great honor and a great joy for the French Republic to welcome you to our soil,” declared the Head of State to the sovereign pontiff after their meeting. Leo XIV begins a four-day marathon in France. In his speech at the Elysée, he denounced "genetic manipulation", "surrogacy", the "purchase of organs" and "the offer of a planned death". The Pope then gave a speech at UNESCO headquarters, before a stroll in a popemobile through the streets of the capital. “Building a just world together is the foundation of international cooperation,” he declared, defending the merits of UNESCO.
A reduced diplomatic component. If the President of the Republic welcomed the sovereign pontiff upon his arrival at the airport, exchanges between Leo XIV and Emmanuel Macron will be quite limited. The Pope went to the Elysée, but also to meet the diplomatic corps and civil society. No face-to-face lunch between the two men, the Bishop of Rome preferring to take his meals at the apostolic nunciature, the official representation of the Holy See in Paris.
Crowd bath in sight. Leo The building will be closed from September 24 to 26 to the public due to this exceptional celebration.
A symbolic vigil at the Stade de France. You had to be between 17 and 35 years old and be responsive when registering to get your seat in Saint-Denis to attend the vigil, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The evening will begin with a musical prologue, including performances by Natasha Saint-Pier and Monroe, the French candidate for Eurovision 2026, before the opening of the vigil punctuated by pop-praise pieces. Leo
Open Questions
- What will be the details of future exchanges with civil society?
