Pope Léon XIV Plans Visit to France in Late September 2026 with Presidential Support

Pope Léon XIV is expected to visit France at the end of September 2026, with planned stops in Paris and the major pilgrimage site of Lourdes, according to announcements by the French Bishops' Conference (CEF). Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the CEF, confirmed that he has been working with the Pope to develop a program for the visit, which would be Léon XIV's fifth international trip since his election in May 2025.

The invitation for the Pope's visit is backed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Léon XIV in Rome on April 10, 2026. The Pope has expressed admiration for France and its spiritual history, potentially signifying an effort to strengthen Vatican-France relations amid ongoing debates over secularism.

Lourdes, a historically significant pilgrimage destination, has hosted previous papal visits by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, drawing hundreds of thousands of faithful. The Catholic Church in France has recently seen a notable rise in adult and adolescent baptisms, suggesting renewed vitality despite broader challenges facing European Catholicism.

Former Pope François made three visits to France during his pontificate but did not undertake formal state visits and notably declined to attend the 2024 reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, five years after the fire. This upcoming visit by Léon XIV marks a distinct moment in Vatican-French relations.

Preparations remain underway, and the Vatican has yet to formally confirm the trip. However, French church and political leaders display optimism about the visit's significance for both spiritual and diplomatic ties.