Politics
Pope Leo XIV begins first France state visit in 18 years
September 25, 2026 at 09:26 AM
Coverage
3 reports · over 16 hours
Pope Leo XIV has begun a four-day visit to France, his first official trip to the country, meeting President Macron in Paris on Friday.
- Leo met Macron at the Élysée Palace for talks on geopolitics and artificial intelligence.
- France enacted a law in August establishing a right to assisted dying, which the Catholic Church opposed.
- About 600,000 people are expected for a Champs-Élysées Mass and 80,000 for a Stade de France youth vigil.
- Leo will meet seven clerical sexual abuse survivors in Lourdes, where 150,000 have registered for Sunday Mass.