France prepares for Pope Leo XIV's four-day visit amid 'great thirst for spirituality'

Pope Leo XIV will make an apostolic journey to France from September 25 to 28, with stops in Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes and Metz. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the French Bishops' Conference (CEF) and archbishop of Marseille, announced the trip at a press conference on September 8, joined by other bishops. The visit comes amid what has been described as a "great thirst for spirituality" in the country.

Aveline said he had proposed the idea to the pope from the start. He was told at first that the pope's calendar was full until 2026, but a week opened up after a trip to Peru was canceled. "I said: 'Then forget Peru, let's do France. I'll take care of the rest,'" the cardinal said. He called the preparations an "enormous challenge" given the four months available.

Itinerary and theme of the trip

The program includes a prayer vigil at the Stade de France, the national stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. The theme of the visit, "So that the world may have life," is drawn from the Gospel of John and has been read against the recent debate in France over a law on assisted suicide. Aveline rejected any political reading of it, but said the theme is a message in defense of the dignity of human life.

The estimated budget for the visit is about 27 million euros, of which 5.5 million has been raised so far. About one million people are expected to attend, from France and from neighboring European countries.

Meetings

The pope will meet survivors of sexual abuse during the trip. Bishop Pierre-Antoine Bozo, spokesman for the CEF, said the Church must care for these victims and remain extremely vigilant so that it is a safe home. Seven people have been selected for the meeting, which will be held in a private setting.

In Lourdes, the pope will come as a pilgrim, taking part in the Marian procession and celebrating Mass. Up to 50,000 people are expected in Lourdes over the weekend of the visit.

Interreligious dimension and closing in Metz

Young people from several faiths will take part in the event at the Stade de France, where about 80,000 young people are expected. Bishop Benoît Bertrand stressed the importance of this part of the trip, which is meant to encourage dialogue and peace among different faith communities.

The trip will end in Metz, where the pope will meet representatives of various religions. The meeting is intended to highlight reconciliation and interreligious dialogue, themes central to the life of Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union. "When a pope visits a country, his visit does not only concern that country, it can offer something to the universal Church," Aveline said.