Pope meets abuse survivors, addresses accountability in Lourdes
Pope meets abuse survivors in Lourdes, addresses bishops on institutional accountability.
Event / Society
Pope Leo XIV France Visit
Pope's visit to France including meetings with abuse victims and statements on sexual violence in the Catholic Church
3 reported locations
Daily activity
60 articles0 articles
2026-09-21 to 2026-11-01 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 21 Sept, 11:56 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
Large papal mass held at Place de la Concorde with approximately 600,000 attendees
A major religious mass was held at Place de la Concorde on the second day of Pope Leo XIV's visit to France, with approximately 600,000 spectators expected. The service began at 15:00 (13:00 GMT) and included numerous political figures, though French President Emmanuel Macron did not attend.
Pope Leo XIV travels through Paris on papamobile down Champs-Elysées
Pope Leo XIV began traveling down the Champs-Elysées in a papamobile on Saturday, greeted by crowds of faithful supporters, en route to Place de la Concorde where a large religious mass was to take place.
Young people from across France gathered for papal mass at Place de la Concorde
Young people from throughout France attended the papal mass held at Place de la Concorde during Pope Leo XIV's visit to the country.
80,000 young people attend prayer vigil at Stade de France
A large prayer vigil was held at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on the evening of September 26, attended by 80,000 young people aged 17-35. The event featured contemporary Christian music and worship alongside exchanges with Pope Leon XIV.
Over 600,000 pilgrims gather in Paris for papal mass
Pilgrims from across France and internationally began gathering at Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées in Paris from early morning on September 27 to attend the solemn papal mass. Among them was a delegation from the Marseille diocese who waited patiently since mid-morning for the 3 PM mass.
Pope Leon XIV addresses UNESCO on artificial intelligence dangers
During his first day in France, Pope Leon XIV delivered a speech at UNESCO where he acknowledged the institution's role and reiterated warnings about the dangers of artificial intelligence.
Pope Leon XIV celebrates vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral
Pope Leon XIV celebrated vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on his first day, followed by a brief procession through Paris in the papal vehicle. The service was attended by clergy and seminarians.
Pope Leon XIV to visit center for exiled persons in Paris
On the morning of September 27, Pope Leon XIV was scheduled to visit Maison Bakhita, an reception and support center operated by the Paris diocese for exiled and displaced persons.
Pope Leon XIV begins four-day visit to France
Pope Leon XIV began a four-day official visit to France on Friday, September 26, 2026, with stops scheduled in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. The visit included meetings with the French President and various religious and public events across the country.
Pope travels to Lourdes for prayer at apparition grotto
On September 26, 2026, Pope Leo XIV departed Paris-Orly airport at 17:45 and arrived at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées airport at 19:05. At 19:40, he participated in prayer at the grotto of apparitions of Massabielle at the Notre-Dame de Lourdes sanctuary in Lourdes. The event was open to the general public with mandatory advance registration.
French President Macron absent from papal mass, represented by Prime Minister
President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the papal mass at Place de la Concorde on September 26, 2026. He was represented by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his wife Brigitte Macron. Several right-leaning presidential candidates attended, including Marine Le Pen, Bruno Retailleau, Gabriel Attal, and Édouard Philippe.
Pope meets with Catholic assembly and new members in Paris
On September 26, 2026, at 10:15, Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly, catechumens, and neophytes at the Catholic Institute of Paris. The Pope delivered a speech at this invitation-only event, which was broadcast.
Pope visits Catholic social services center in Paris
On September 26, 2026, at 09:00, Pope Leo XIV visited the Maison Bakhita in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, a reception and social integration center operated by the Diocese of Paris for exiled persons. The visit was conducted without public attendance.
Papal visit to Lourdes first since 2008
The papal visit to Lourdes on September 26, 2026, marks the first papal visit to the sanctuary since Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. It is the third visit by Pope Leo XIV, who came twice on pilgrimage as a newly ordained priest approximately 40 years prior. Approximately 150,000 people were expected to attend in the Pyrenean city.
Pope Leo XIV arrives in France for multi-city visit
Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on September 25, 2026, beginning a papal visit that includes stops in Paris and Lourdes. The visit represents a significant religious event with major security and public attendance expected.
Pope celebrates mass at Place de la Concorde with hundreds of thousands attending
On September 26, 2026, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a solemn outdoor mass at Place de la Concorde in Paris starting at 15:00, with an expected attendance of 600,000 people. The mass lasted approximately 90 minutes and was open to families, youth, sick persons, and the general public.
Exceptional security deployment during papal visit in France
France deployed unprecedented security measures for the papal visit. In Paris on September 26, approximately 12,000 police officers, gendarmes, and military personnel from Operation Sentinelle were mobilized, along with 2,500 firefighters. In Lourdes, approximately 1,000 law enforcement officers were deployed at the sanctuary, with over 3,000 additional agents including elite tactical units, plus military jet fighter protection.
Pope Leo XIV visits migrant center in Paris
Pope Leo XIV visited the Bakhita House, a center for vulnerable migrants in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, on Saturday, September 26, 2026. During the visit, the Pope called for recognition of those who are invisible in society, addressing the conditions and needs of migrant populations.
Over 600,000 people expected at papal mass in Paris
Approximately 600,000 faithful were expected to attend the outdoor papal mass at Place de la Concorde on September 26, 2026. The scale of attendance necessitated expansion of the viewing area to Place de l'Étoile and Avenue de la Grande-Armée, with dozens of kilometers of barriers and approximately 40 large screens installed.
Pope expresses concern about France's end-of-life law
Pope Leo XIV expressed concern about France's end-of-life law adopted two months prior to his visit. He stated that such legislation, along with other societal trends, risks misusing science and technology for profit-driven purposes, specifically mentioning practices like genetic manipulation, surrogacy, organ trafficking, and programmed death.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Pope concludes France visit with Lourdes spiritual pilgrimage and prayer
Pope Leo XIV concludes France visit with Lourdes spiritual pilgrimage, masses, and meetings with bishops and abuse survivors.
Pope draws 600,000 faithful to historic Paris Mass at Place de la Concorde
Pope celebrates mass drawing 600,000 faithful to Paris's Place de la Concorde during historic France visit.
Pope warns artificial intelligence threatens human dignity and autonomy
Pope warns AI threatens human dignity; calls for international technology governance frameworks.
Animal rights activists disrupt papal procession in Paris protest
Animal rights activists disrupted papal procession in Paris, protesting bullfighting.
Pope engages Paris parishes through migrant support and baptism renewal
Pope visits Paris migrant centers and Catholic parishes, emphasizing refugee dignity and baptismal renewal.
Paris logistics strain as papal masses draw record-breaking crowds
Record papal crowds in Paris strained infrastructure with 600,000 at outdoor mass requiring 14,000 security personnel and metro closures.
Pope addresses AI ethics, bioethics tensions during Paris diplomatic visit
Pope warns AI threatens human dignity, addresses bioethics tensions with France during Paris visit.
Macron absent from papal mass as French officials attend
Macron skipped papal mass while French officials attended ceremonies during the pope's France visit.
Record Paris masses draw 600,000 faithful to papal ceremonies
Pope Leo XIV's Paris masses drew record 600,000 attendees at Place de la Concorde and 80,000 youth at Stade de France vigil.
Pope calls for refugee dignity at Paris migrant support center
Pope advocates refugee dignity at Paris migrant support center during France visit.
Pope Leo XIV criticizes genetic manipulation, end-of-life practices in France
Pope criticizes genetic manipulation and end-of-life practices while supporting inclusive secularism in France.