Pope Leo XIV arrived in Paris on Friday for a four-day state visit, marking the first official papal pilgrimage to the strictly secular nation in 18 years. The spiritual leader of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide was welcomed at Orly Airport by French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit, which runs through Monday, blends religious observance with high-level diplomacy on issues ranging from artificial intelligence to historical church accountability.
Upon arrival, Leo addressed questions from journalists aboard his aircraft, affirming his support for press freedom after a CNN reporter asked about US President Donald Trump’s recent bans on news outlets covering him. “I am very happy that here, you are all welcome,” the pope said. He also issued a personal apology to the media corps for a recent incident during a trip to Spain, where mechanical issues forced him to return to Rome alone, leaving reporters behind.
The itinerary is dense with symbolic and political events. On Friday, the pontiff will meet with Macron at the Elysee Palace, speak at UNESCO headquarters, lead Vespers at Notre Dame Cathedral, and celebrate Mass for an estimated 80,000 young people at the Stade de France. The following day, he is scheduled to celebrate Mass for roughly 600,000 attendees at Place de la Concorde on the Champs-Elysees before traveling south to Lourdes, a major Catholic pilgrimage site near the Spanish border.
On Monday, Leo will travel to Metz near the German border for an event titled “To the roots of Europe for peace and unity.” Macron will introduce the pope and has invited fellow EU leaders to attend. During discussions with President Macron, Leo is expected to address global concerns regarding artificial intelligence, warning earlier at the Vatican that leaders must “govern wisely” as the technology poses new dangers to international peace and challenges the definition of human existence.
The visit also aims to repair the Catholic Church’s reputation in France, where public trust plummeted following a 2021 report revealing that 330,000 children were victims of abuse by clergy and lay leaders over seven decades. Leo, who has been a vocal critic of conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, stated upon landing that he seeks to be “a pilgrim for peace.” He is scheduled to meet with victims of church abuse during the trip.
I wonder how the French press actually treats him compared to the Trump ban situation he mentioned. Hopefully with more respect.
Will the apology to abuse victims lead to real systemic change, or is this just performative diplomacy for the cameras?
Six hundred thousand people at Place de la Concorde? That’s a massive display of faith in such a secular country. Truly historic turnout.
It is quite striking that he addressed AI risks and media freedom in the same breath upon arrival. A bold move for a modern pontiff.