The Archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Laurent Ulrich, confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will visit the French capital on September 25 and 26 as part of his apostolic journey to France. The announcement was made through his official X account, where he said the Pope’s presence will be “a comfort and encouragement to many.” The confirmation aligns with an announcement from the French Episcopal Conference. The Pope will participate in five major meetings during the visit.
On September 25, Leo XIV will preside over vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris and take part in an evening with young people. On September 26 he will celebrate an open-air Mass in Paris. On September 27 he will celebrate a Eucharist at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, and on September 28 he will preside over a Mass at the Cathedral of Metz. “We can now let our joy burst forth, as we are in a position to publicly confirm that Paris will welcome the Holy Father on September 25 and 26, as part of his apostolic journey to France!” Monsignor Ulrich wrote. The archbishop noted the announcement follows weeks of preparation in his diocese and stressed the importance of “his pastoral and paternal care” for French Catholics.
Monsignor Ulrich expressed pride that Paris was chosen as a main stop: “We know that Paris is one of the dioceses of France, and that each particular Church reflects in its own way the face of Christ: that Pope Leo chose to come here among the stops on his journey honors us and obliges us.” He added that the Parisian Church must prepare and “work wholeheartedly to create the conditions for a true encounter that transcends our own borders.”
According to the archbishop, on Friday September 25, before vespers at Notre-Dame with priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians from across France, the Pope will meet with the faithful. “The Holy Father will come to meet you. The evening of that same day will be dedicated to an exchange and a time of prayer with the young people,” he specified. On Saturday September 26, Leo XIV “will preside over an open-air Mass in the heart of Paris, which I invite you to join, either by attending if you can, or by prayer,” Monsignor Ulrich said.
The archbishop said many logistical details are still being prepared, but invited the faithful to get involved now in organizing the visit. He also requested financial support to help house the numerous pilgrims expected. Finally, he urged Catholics to accompany preparations with prayer. “I ask you above all to join in this preparation through prayer: prayer for the Holy Father (…) prayer also for all the people (…) who will be involved in organizing this trip,” he wrote. Ulrich concluded by asking for prayers for the Church in France so it may remain “united behind the bishops in full communion with the successor of Peter” and preserve, “in all the storms of our time, its faithful joy in the Gospel of the Lord.”