Pope Leo XIV begins France visit with Notre-Dame vespers and Stade de France vigil

Arrival and addresses on bioethics and secularism

Pope Leo XIV arrived at Paris Orly airport at 10:30 on Friday, 25 September, welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron to the sound of the Vatican anthem and La Marseillaise. At the Élysée Palace, the pontiff thanked the French president before addressing French secularism, artificial intelligence, and end-of-life policies. The pope spoke against genetic manipulation, surrogacy, organ purchases, and programmed death, describing them as deviations that risk turning science and technology into commercial enterprises. Following the meeting, the pontiff travelled to UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where he delivered a second official address.

It is a great joy for me to be among you today. I am particularly grateful to you, Mr President, for your cordial invitation to visit France, and I thank you for the words of welcome you have just addressed to me.

Procession and return to Notre-Dame

During the afternoon, the pope travelled in an electric Mercedes popemobile bearing Vatican registration SCV 1, previously used by Pope Francis. The 2.5-kilometre route ran from Notre-Dame-des-Champs church to Place Saint-Michel under Vatican flags in yellow and white. According to Vatican estimates, 300,000 people gathered along the streets. At 17:15, Pope Leo XIV entered Notre-Dame Cathedral, becoming the first pope to visit the building since its December 2024 reopening following the 2019 fire. Inside, he celebrated Vespers before 6,000 bishops, priests, deacons, and seminarians, calling for unity in the French Church and praying before the Virgin and Child statue.

Seven years have passed since the whole world, holding its breath, saw the cathedral go up in flames in an unbelievable fire. And today, the splendour of the results reveals that the heart of a people beats in this place.

Youth vigil and national security deployment

The first day concluded at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, where 80,000 young Catholics aged 17 to 35 attended an evening prayer vigil. Bishop of Saint-Denis Étienne Guillet delivered the welcome address, followed by performances from Canadian singer Natasha St-Pier, Grégory Turpin, Les Frangines, and Collectif Pop louange. The ceremony included an exhibition of the holy tunic of Argenteuil and closed with fireworks launched from the stadium roof. Organizing the papal visit mobilized substantial national resources, including a 27 million euro budget and strict security measures.

Thank you for your courage, thank you for your presence, thank you for your faith. You are the saints of France!

Upcoming schedule across France

On Saturday morning, Pope Leo XIV visits Maison Bakhita, a diocesan migrant support centre in the 18th arrondissement, to meet six refugees from Algeria, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iraq, and Ivory Coast. He then meets catechumens and synod members at the Institut Catholique de Paris. At 15:00, the pope presides over an open-air Mass on Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées, where perimeter access extends to Place de l'Étoile and Avenue de la Grande Armée. Ten metro stations will close for the ceremony, which French politicians including Marine Le Pen, Gabriel Attal, and Édouard Philippe plan to attend, while Macron will not. Later on Saturday, the pope travels to Lourdes for evening prayers at the Massabielle grotto, before visiting Metz on Monday.