Pope Leo XIV's first visit to France is already generating a huge amount of excitement. Registration for the large gatherings planned in Paris was snapped up almost immediately. The Stade de France is now sold out for the vigil with young people, while more than 200,000 people have already registered to attend the grand mass celebrated on the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées. The pontiff will undertake an apostolic journey to France from September 25 to 28, 2026. During his four-day visit, he will travel to Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes, and Metz, and will also visit UNESCO headquarters. This will be Leo XIV's first visit to France since his election.
The Stade de France sold out in a few hours
Registration for the two main Parisian gatherings opened on Monday, August 10th at noon. It took only a few hours to fill the Stade de France, where Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to participate in a large prayer vigil for young people aged 17 to 35 on Friday, September 25th. By 12:20 PM, the stadium was considered full, including those already registered, those on the waiting list, and groups still finalizing their registration. A waiting list remains open, however, as some places may be reassigned in case of cancellations or the removal of duplicate registrations. The vigil will be entirely free. The gates of the Stade de France are scheduled to open at 17:30 PM. Pope Leo XIV will deliver a speech to the young people gathered in Saint-Denis.
More than 200,000 people have already registered for the mass in Paris
The enthusiasm is even more spectacular for the grand Mass scheduled for Saturday, September 26, at 3 p.m. More than 200,000 people registered on the first day to attend the celebration presided over by the Pope in the Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées. Registration is free and strongly recommended to facilitate access and crowd management. Unlike the vigil at the Stade de France, however, registration is not required to attend the Mass: unregistered individuals will also be able to access the designated areas, subject to availability. Several hundred thousand faithful are thus expected to gather in the heart of Paris for one of the key events of the papal visit.
Macron, UNESCO, Notre-Dame, then the Stade de France
Pope Leo XIV will arrive at Paris-Orly Airport on Friday, September 25, at 10:00 a.m. An hour later, he will be received at the Élysée Palace by Emmanuel Macron . At 11:45 a.m., he will meet with French authorities, representatives of civil society, and the diplomatic corps. At 3:00 p.m., the Pope will travel to UNESCO headquarters to deliver a speech. He will then proceed to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris at 5:15 p.m. to celebrate Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and seminarians. A procession on the cathedral square is also planned. He will then travel to the Stade de France for the vigil with young people.
A giant mass before the departure for Lourdes
On Saturday, September 26, Pope Leo XIV will visit the Maison Bakhita, a social support and integration center, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, at 9:00 a.m. At 10:15 a.m., he will meet with members of the Provincial Synod Assembly, catechumens, and neophytes at the Catholic Institute of Paris. The High Mass at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées will begin at 3:00 p.m. After the celebration, the Pope will leave Paris-Orly Airport at 5:45 p.m. for Lourdes. He is scheduled to arrive at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport at 7:05 p.m., before a prayer at the Grotto of Massabielle at 7:40 p.m.
Lourdes and then Metz to complete the visit
On Sunday, September 27, Pope Leo XIV will meet with the bishops of France at 9:00 a.m. before celebrating an open-air Mass at 11:00 a.m. in the meadow of the Lourdes sanctuary. He is also scheduled to meet with residents of the Accueil Notre-Dame shelter and contemplative nuns. A private meeting with victims of sexual abuse within the Church is also planned, the details of which are yet to be determined. The day will conclude at 9:00 p.m. with the recitation of the Rosary and a torchlight procession. The Pope will then travel to Metz on Monday, September 28. After an interreligious meeting, he will participate in a conference dedicated to Europe, peace, and unity at the Robert Schuman Convention Center. A final Mass will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m. at Metz Cathedral. Pope Leo XIV will then leave France at 7:00 p.m. to return to Rome.
