Pope Leo XIV to Hold Mass on Champs-Elysées During September State Visit to France

Pope Leo XIV will visit France from September 25 to 28 for the first official state visit by a pontiff in 18 years. The schedule includes a mass on the Place de la Concorde and adjoining Champs-Elysées avenue in Paris on September 26. The French capital's archbishop, Laurent Ulrich, told Agence France-Presse on Friday that the early-afternoon mass is expected to draw 500,000 people.

A gathering with young people is also planned for September 25 at the Stade de France stadium in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.

"We want these events to be open to as many people as possible, who will no doubt be coming from all over France," said the archbishop. " After Paris, the pope will travel to Lourdes, where he will hold an open-air mass on Sunday, September 27. He will also hold another mass at the cathedral in the northeastern city of Metz on September 28.

The visit follows a trip to Spain in June.

It demonstrates the pope's interest in engaging with historically Catholic but increasingly secular European countries, which had been largely overlooked by his predecessor, Francis. The pope's schedule was announced the same day he delivered a blessing during a visit to Pavia's Cathedral in northern Italy.