Pope Leo XIV to Make State Visit to France in September

The Vatican announced on Saturday that Pope Leo XIV will make a state visit to France from September 25 to 28. The pontiff is expected to visit Paris, including a stop at UNESCO headquarters, and the pilgrimage site of Lourdes in southwestern France.

The trip follows a visit to Spain scheduled for June. This will be the first official state visit by a pope to France since 2008. While the previous pope made three trips to the country, none were designated as state visits by the Holy See. The president of the French Bishops' Conference extended an invitation to the pope, which was repeated by the French president during an April meeting at the Vatican.

The pope, a French speaker, has expressed esteem for the country and its spiritual history on multiple occasions. "It's a great joy, but also a great responsibility," the cardinal who leads the French Bishops' Conference said after the announcement.

He added that discussions with the pope since his election showed keen interest in the visit and in the life of the Church in France, its missionary zeal and the challenges it faces.

Elected in May 2025 as the first pope from the United States, the current pontiff has shown interest in engaging with historically Catholic but increasingly secular European countries that received less attention from his predecessor. The visit was announced shortly after the pope was seen praying in a chapel during a stop at Sapienza University of Rome on May 14.

The announcement came on May 16. Lourdes has hosted previous popes, with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathering each time according to the sanctuary.

The upcoming trip marks a return to formal state visits after a period in which papal travel to France took other forms. French officials have welcomed the news. The French president described the visit as an honor for the country, a joy for Catholics, and a great moment of hope for all.