Pope Leo’s schedule for his four-day Apostolic Journey to France

Vatican News

The program for Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France from September 25-28 has formally been launched. The four-day go to will likely be packed because the Pope will journey to Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes, and Metz earlier than returning to Rome.

While Pope Francis travelled to Ajaccio, Corsica in December 2024, Marseille in September 2023, and Strasbourg in 2014, none have been constituted an official state go to. Pope Leo’s would be the first since Pope Benedict XVI visited in September 2008.

France’s President Macron meets Pope Francis in Corsica in 2024   (AFP or licensor)

September 25: From Rome to Paris

On the Friday morning, the Pope will depart from Rome Fiumicino International Airport at 7:50am native time and fly to Paris Orly International Airport, touchdown at 10am. After a welcome ceremony, the Pope will meet with the President of the Republic, Emanuel Macron, on the Élysée Palace.

Afterwards, Pope Leo is scheduled to deal with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps. In the afternoon of the primary day, he’ll cease on the headquarters of UNESCO the place he is because of ship a speech.

The Pope will go to the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris

The final two occasions of the night would be the celebration of Vespers with clergy and consecrated women and men on the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the place the Pontiff will give a homily.

Pope Leo will shut out his first day in France on the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, dedicating his time to a prayer vigil with younger folks.

September 26: Paris and Lourdes

His second day in France will start with a go to to the Maison Bakhita Center for social assist and integration, run by the Archdiocese of Paris. Inaugurated in September 2021, the Center hosts or immediately delivers focused, revolutionary assist and advocacy packages for folks residing in exile.

The project began as a response to Pope Francis’ name in February 2017 “to welcome, protect, promote and integrate” each migrant, which he mentioned was “a duty of justice, civilization and solidarity”.

Then, Pope Leo will maintain an viewers with members of the provincial synodal meeting, catechumens and the newly baptized on the Institut Catholique de Paris (the Catholic University of Paris).

Before heading by airplane to Lourdes, the Pope closes his time in Paris with Mass on the Place de la Concorde.

After arriving in Lourdes, he’ll take time to hope on the Grotto of the Apparitions at Massabielle on the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

September 27: Lourdes

The morning of his first full day in Lourdes, Pope Leo will communicate with bishops of the French Episcopal Conference within the Saint Bernadette auditorium on the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, adopted by Mass on the Prairie or meadow of the Shrine.

He will then spend time assembly with and greeting the employees and sick neighborhood of the Accueil Notre Dame—a specialised residential healthcare facility and welcome heart the place pilgrims from around the globe come and keep throughout their pilgrimage.

Following that viewers, the Pontiff will maintain a non-public assembly with the contemplative spiritual sisters on the Carmelite Monastery of Lourdes. The night time ends with the normal torchlight Rosary procession on the Shrine.

Torchlight procession on the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes every day at 9:00 PM from April by means of October   (AFP or licensors)

September 28: Lourdes, Metz, Rome

The Pope’s ultimate day in France sees him journey to Metz to attend an interreligious assembly and the “To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity” assembly on the “Robert Schuman” Conference Centre.

A final Mass on the Cathedral of Saint Stephen concludes Pope Leo’s time in France. This Neo-Gothic church, also referred to as the “Lantern of God,” is famend for its greater than 6,500 sq. meters of stained-glass home windows. Then, the Pope will head again to Rome on a 7pm flight from Metz-Nancy-Lorraine International Airport.

Motto and emblem

The emblem for the go to incorporates the stained-glass home windows harking back to the rose home windows of France’s Gothic cathedrals, symbolizing the great thing about communion and unity throughout the Church. At the middle of the emblem, based on an official assertion, are a pointed Gothic arch and the Cross, expressing “the apostolic and liturgical dimension of the journey.” A dove, representing the Holy Spirit, carries an olive department, an indication of peace for humanity.

Shades of blue, white, and crimson—along with the yellow-orange of sunshine and the inexperienced of hope—mix the colours of France with these of the Vatican.

Logo and motto of the journey to France

The chosen motto, “That the world may have life,” is described as “a call to hope and communion, encouraging people to overcome divisions in order to share peace, reconciliation, and fraternity, signs of new life in the world.” The assertion provides that these phrases additionally categorical “the spirit in which the Church in France welcomes the Holy Father’s visit: with joy, openness, and a deep desire to bear witness to the life that comes from God.”

Meeting with survivors of abuse

At the identical time as the discharge of the official program, the Holy See Press Office introduced that, “during his upcoming apostolic journey to France, Pope Leo XIV will meet privately with several survivors of abuse in the Church.”

“The survivors themselves will be involved in preparing this meeting,” the assertion mentioned, including that no additional particulars concerning the date, location, or variety of individuals are being launched at the moment, although extra info could also be offered later.

The assembly follows the same encounter the Pope held with survivors throughout his go to to Spain. It carries explicit significance in France, the place the Church has been deeply shaken by the abuse disaster and has, lately, undertaken structural reforms and an ongoing means of accountability and therapeutic.

Volunteers and Website

“Several months ago, we worked with the Pope to develop an initial draft of the program,” mentioned Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille and President of the French Bishops’ Conference. “Since then, together with our collaborators at the Vatican, the Bishops’ Conference, the dioceses of Paris and Metz, and the Sanctuary of Lourdes, we have worked intensively to finalize every detail of this journey. It is a great joy to be able to share it today with all of France.”

Bishop Benoît Bertrand of Pontoise added: “Everything is being organized so that everyone who wishes to do so can take part in this exceptional event. Practical information and arrangements will be announced progressively as they are finalized.”

The Archdiocese of Paris plans to enlist 10,000 volunteers to help with welcoming individuals and organizing the papal go to.

The Church in France has additionally launched a devoted web site for the Pope’s go to, the place folks can register freed from cost to function volunteers or make a donation in assist of the occasion.