Paris. Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France marks a significant moment in French news. Arriving in Paris on Friday 25 September 2026, the pontiff moved through a series of official engagements, from the Élysée to the Stade de France. The following day, he met the faithful on the Place de la Concorde.
A first stop at the Élysée
On his arrival in Paris, Pope Leo XIV was welcomed by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. The pontiff then went to the Élysée Palace to meet the head of state and the French authorities, a meeting that is part of the long-standing relationship between France and the Holy See.
At the Élysée, the talks also took on a diplomatic dimension. The Pope was also due to meet members of civil society and the diplomatic corps, before continuing his programme at UNESCO and then at Notre-Dame de Paris.
At the Stade de France, the Pope meets the young
In the evening, the visit moved to Saint-Denis. The Stade de France hosted a prayer vigil with the Pope and thousands of young people, one of the key moments of the first day of his trip.
Speaking to the young people, Leo XIV emphasised faith, commitment and fraternity. A dialogue with several of them also allowed him to talk about how to live one’s faith in a society where many people do not share Christian beliefs.
The choice of the Stade de France also gave the gathering a popular feel. Far from the official reception rooms of the Élysée, the Pope found himself at the centre of a large event dedicated to youth.
The Concorde, the high point of Saturday
The next day, Saturday 26 September, Pope Leo XIV continued his Paris programme with a Mass celebrated on the Place de la Concorde, before leaving for Lourdes. The Vatican had officially scheduled the celebration for 3 pm.
The Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées were specifically included in the security operation set up for the papal visit. The authorities planned extensive crowd-management measures to ensure the safety of participants and traffic around these famous sites of the capital.
For the Catholic Church, these places also carry symbolic value, allowing the Pope to meet large numbers of people in the heart of Paris. The Diocese of Paris had explained that the Stade de France and the Place de la Concorde were chosen mainly for their capacity to welcome the public and for their symbolic importance.
A visit between tradition and modernity
From the presidential palace to France’s largest stadium and one of the most famous squares in Paris, Leo XIV’s itinerary offered very different images of the capital. His visit combined meetings with institutions, conversations with young people and religious celebrations.
After Paris, the Pope continued his journey to Lourdes, where his programme included a prayer at the Grotto of the Apparitions. His visit to France was due to continue until 28 September.
This French leg is therefore an important moment at the start of Leo XIV’s pontificate, marked by his presence in very different settings: with the institutions of the Republic at the Élysée, with young people at the Stade de France, and with the faithful gathered in the heart of Paris on the Place de la Concorde.
