Pope Leo prays in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris 7 years after devastating fire

Pope Leo XIV prayed inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Sept. 25, 2026, marking his first visit to the cathedral since the 2019 fire. During a celebration of vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, and religious men and women, the Pope spoke in French, telling the gathered group that the cathedral's rebirth serves as an encouragement for them to pursue holiness and their daily missions.

The visit occurred during a four-day apostolic journey to France. As the Pope traveled from the UNESCO headquarters to the Place Saint-Michel, the Holy See Press office reported that approximately 300,000 people greeted him in the streets. The cathedral had previously reopened to the public in December 2024.