By Ayomide Otitoju
Pope Leo XIV will undertake an official state visit to France from September 25 to 28, the Vatican announced on Saturday, marking the first papal state visit to the country in 18 years.
The first American pope, elected in May 2025, is expected to visit Paris, including a stop at the headquarters of the United Nations cultural agency, UNESCO.
The Vatican said the trip reflects the pontiff’s continued engagement with historically Catholic but increasingly secular European nations. It follows his visit to Spain in June.
The last papal state visit to France was by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2008, while Pope Francis, though he visited the country three times during his papacy, did not make an official state visit.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the announcement, describing the visit as “an honour” for France and a moment of hope for Catholics and citizens alike.
The visit comes after invitations from the French Bishops’ Conference and President Macron, who had earlier met the pope at the Vatican in April.
Church officials say Pope Leo has shown strong interest in the life of the Church in France, its missionary role, and the challenges it faces amid internal divisions within global Catholicism.
During the trip, the pontiff is also expected to visit Lourdes, a major Catholic pilgrimage site in southwestern France that has previously hosted visits from Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, drawing large gatherings of pilgrims.
