Pope Leo XIV begins four-day state visit to France

Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday, September 25, 2026, for a four-day visit intended to address the Catholic Church's standing following abuse scandals and to advocate for global AI regulation. Upon his arrival at Orly airport, the pontiff was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron. The itinerary includes visits to Paris, the shrine at Lourdes, and the city of Metz, with a major outdoor Mass scheduled for Saturday at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, which has seen 600,000 registrations.

During his meetings at the Élysée Palace, Pope Leo emphasized the risks of losing human values in the advancement of machine technology. He is also scheduled to address officials at UNESCO headquarters. While the President will not attend the Mass to uphold France's policy on the separation of state and religion, his wife is expected to be present. The trip highlights ongoing tensions, including the Pope's past criticisms of U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from UNESCO in 2025, leaving the agency facing significant budget shortfalls.