Pope Leo XIV to visit France in September this year
Vatican News • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV will undertake an Apostolic Journey to France from September 25 to 28, 2026, marking the first official papal visit to the country since Pope Benedict XVI's 2008 trip.
- The visit responds to invitations from French state leaders, ecclesiastical authorities, and UNESCO's Director-General, with the Pope scheduled to visit UNESCO headquarters.
- Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron met for the first time since the Pope's election on April 10, 2026, continuing a history of diplomatic engagements between Macron and the Vatican.
- President Macron has previously met with Pope Francis multiple times since 2017, including visits to the Vatican and meetings at international summits in 2023 and 2024.