Pope Leo XIV arrives in France for state visit

Mass planned at the Place de la Concorde

Further along in the visit, a Mass is planned at the Place de la Concorde, at which several tens of thousands of faithful are expected. The trip thus ties in with earlier papal visits to Paris. Security measures around the square and the adjacent Champs-Élysées were significantly increased the day before; part of inner-city traffic was rerouted.

Continuation of the journey to Lourdes

On Saturday, the Pope will travel to Lourdes in southwestern France. A prayer at the Grotto of Massabielle and a meeting with the sick and pilgrims are on the programme there. Lourdes is one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world and attracts millions of visitors each year. The Vatican announced that the Pope primarily wants to seek dialogue there with volunteers and caregivers.

Another topic of the trip is France's role in international diplomacy. Both sides pointed to the importance of multilateral talks, particularly with regard to ongoing conflicts in several world regions. Macron and Pope Leo XIV emphasised that religious institutions and states could jointly contribute to de-escalation.

AI ethics as a shared topic

The ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence were also explicitly named. France is currently preparing national and European regulations on AI and is seeking dialogue with religious and ethical bodies in the process. In this context, Macron spoke of a "shared responsibility" that extends beyond national borders.

From the Vatican's perspective, the visit is part of a series of international trips with which Pope Leo XIV has intensified dialogue with the local churches following his election. In recent months, he has visited, among others, the United States. Observers see the France trip as an important signal to European Catholicism.

After the conclusion of the programme in Lourdes, the Pope will fly on to the next stage of his journey on Sunday. Details of the further travel schedule have not yet been officially confirmed by the Vatican. The French government expects a large media turnout overall and has set up expanded press centres for the duration of the visit.

France has historically close relations with the Holy See. A concordat from 1801, whose effects continue to be felt in some dioceses, governs the relationship between state and church. According to both sides, the coming days are intended to reaffirm these relations in light of current challenges.

Overall, the visit is considered diplomatically significant, but also as a spiritual event. The Catholic Church in France says it has mobilised several hundred thousand volunteers to care for pilgrims and visitors at the event venues.

The Vatican published a brief greeting from the Pope to the French on Friday. In it, he thanked them for their hospitality and called for a "courageous and fraternal" togetherness. The Catholic Church in France expressed its delight at the stages of the journey and announced numerous local events surrounding the visit.