A Pope in Paris, After Eighteen Years

The Outsider's take

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, arrived in Paris this Friday, September 25 — marking the first papal visit to France in eighteen years. His journey, under the motto "That the World May Have Life," also takes him to Lourdes and Metz over the following days.

The day began with a meeting at the Élysée Palace with the French president. However, behind the handshake photos lies a certain distance: the Vatican reportedly rejected several protocols proposed by the French Republic, despite the pope's status as a head of state. For Leo XIV, this trip is "above all pastoral and ecclesial" — not a state visit cloaked in religious clothing.

Nevertheless, the French presidency has carefully cultivated the relationship — hosting more Vatican visits than any previous president, with peace and artificial intelligence expected to feature in today's discussions.

After the Élysée, the pope will visit UNESCO, then Notre-Dame for vespers, and finally attend a youth vigil at the Stade de France, which is expecting 75,000 attendees. On Saturday, there will be an open-air Mass on the Champs-Élysées for an estimated 500,000 worshippers.

Beyond the ceremonies, the pope will also meet with abuse survivors within the Church and those living in poverty — before concluding the trip in Metz with a speech on Europe's future, in the city associated with EU founding father Robert Schuman.

A pope who addresses presidents but maintains his distance.