Vatican City: Pope Leo arrived in France on Friday for a four-day visit focused on the Catholic Church’s response to abuse scandals, the need for global rules governing artificial intelligence and his vision for Europe’s future.
The September 25-28 visit will take the Pope to Paris, the Catholic shrine of Lourdes in southwestern France, and Metz near the German border, a city associated with the origins of the European Union.
Large crowds are expected during the trip, with around 600,000 people registered for an outdoor Mass in central Paris on September 26. French Bishop Marc Stenger stated that the Pope’s visit has generated significant public interest across the country.
Bienvenue en France, Très Saint-Père. pic.twitter.com/xCzJojDnpc
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 25, 2026
AI high on Pope’s agenda
Pope Leo’s programme includes meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and other French officials at the Élysée Palace. The Pontifex will also address staff at the headquarters of UNESCO, the UN agency for culture and education, which is facing financial challenges following the United States’ withdrawal from the organisation in 2025.
AI is expected to feature prominently in the Pope’s UNESCO address. Leo has repeatedly raised concerns about the risks associated with the technology and called for international rules to govern its development.
Speaking at the Vatican on September 24, Pope said that AI could bring benefits to humanity but had also created new risks for security and international peace. He called on world leaders to ensure responsible oversight of the technology.
The visit also comes during disagreements between the Catholic Church in France and the government over abortion and assisted dying. France incorporated the right to abortion into its constitution in 2024 and passed legislation legalising assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses earlier this year. The Catholic Church opposes both practices.
On September 25, Pope Leo will also lead a prayer service at the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, marking the first papal visit to the landmark since the 2019 fire that severely damaged the Gothic cathedral.
Pope to meet abuse survivors
Pope Leo is the first pontiff in nearly two decades to make an official visit to France. The country’s Catholic Church hopes the trip will help address the damage to its reputation following a 2021 report that found around 330,000 children in France had experienced abuse by Catholic clergy and lay members over seven decades.
French bishops have introduced compensation and safeguarding measures since the report, while survivors continue to call for greater accountability from Church leaders. During his visit to Lourdes on September 27, Pope Leo is scheduled to meet seven French survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy. The Vatican has not released further details about the meeting.
The Pope’s France tour will conclude in Metz on September 27, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech on ‘the roots of Europe for peace and unity.’ Macron has invited leaders from all 27 EU member states to attend the event, although it remains unclear how many will participate. Media reports have also suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could attend.
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