'Lourdes and Paris': Pope Leo likely to visit France in September, bishops say
Summary
Pope Leo XIV is likely to visit France in late September, according to French bishops. The visit could include stops in Paris and Lourdes and would be his second trip to a European Union country outside Italy.Key Facts
- Pope Leo XIV leads the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
- The visit to France is expected to be a state visit, pending Vatican confirmation.
- French bishops and President Emmanuel Macron have invited the pope.
- The trip may include Paris, the capital, and Lourdes, a famous Catholic pilgrimage site.
- Pope Leo recently completed a trip to Africa and will visit Spain in June 2026.
- The late Pope Francis visited parts of France but never made an official state visit to Paris.
- Pope Francis declined an invitation to the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris in 2024.
- This visit would be only Pope Leo XIV’s second trip outside Italy within the European Union.
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