Pope heads to secular France with an appeal to respect the dignity of every human life

Pope Leo XIV is traveling to France for a four day visit to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz to advocate for the dignity of human life, peace, and reflection on the impact of artificial intelligence. This visit marks the first time a pope has traveled to the country in 18 years.

Upon landing at Paris Orly airport on Friday, the pope is scheduled to meet with President Emmanuel Macron at the airport and later at the Élysée Palace. His Friday itinerary includes delivering a speech at UNESCO headquarters, celebrating vespers at the reopened Notre-Dame cathedral, and presiding over a youth vigil at a Paris stadium.

More than one million people are expected to attend the various events. French church bells are scheduled to toll at 10 a.m. Friday to mark his arrival.