Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday for a four-day official state visit, drawing tens of thousands of young people to the Stade de France for a vibrant evening vigil. The pontiff addressed national leaders at the Élysée Palace and UNESCO, tackling topics from technology ethics to secularism before thousands of pilgrims.
When Pope Leo XIV rolled into the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday evening, the reception felt less like a traditional papal arrival and more like a stadium tour for a global superstar. Shouts and cheers erupted from the crowd of nearly 80,000 young people who had packed the arena for the opening day of the pontiff’s four-day journey across the country. It marks the first official papal state visit to France in 18 years, following Benedict XVI’s trip in 2008.
Months of careful planning by the Bishops’ Conference of France preceded the visit, with organizers projecting total attendance across the country’s various events to surpass 1 million people. In Tours, five busloads carrying roughly 250 young Catholics departed around midday Friday after local organizers had to turn away additional applicants due to overwhelming demand.
Official Dialogues at the Élysée Palace and UNESCO
Before evening fell on the capital, Leo XIV held high-level meetings that set a serious policy tone for the trip. At the Élysée Palace, President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron greeted the pontiff, opening discussions where Leo directly addressed French laïcité, artificial intelligence, and end-of-life debates. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the bishops’ conference, observed that church unity and global fraternity served as core themes for the journey.
Later at UNESCO headquarters, the pope received a standing ovation and a minute of applause before urging international leaders to shield the young from digital threats. He warned against letting humanity become eclipsed by automated systems, arguing that technological progress must protect independent thought.
Le Parisien reported that Pope Leo XIV warned against the risk of losing our humanity amid the paradise of machines that invade and condition our daily lives according to Le Parisien.
Vespers at Notre-Dame and the Stade de France Vigil
Following his institutional stops, Leo embarked on a 2.5-kilometer popemobile procession through central Paris streets decorated in the yellow and white colors of the Vatican, while local church bells pealed across the city. He celebrated vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral before moving on to the stadium in Saint-Denis.
Inside the stadium, the pontiff delivered a clear message on spiritual resistance. He called on the gathered faithful to pursue their beliefs without resorting to force.
Pope Leo XIV stated that he does not use the weapons of violence, contempt, or oppression via Le Monde.
Pilgrimage Plans in Lourdes and European Messaging in Metz
The itinerary extends far beyond Paris. In the coming days, the pope will travel to Lourdes in the Pyrenees foothills to meet with seven survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse. Pierre-Antoine Bozo noted that the Church actively acknowledges the reality of past abuse and strives to support survivors through their trauma.
Leo will conclude his travels in Metz near the German, Belgian, and Luxembourg borders, delivering an address on European unity and peace at a conference center named after Robert Schuman. That stop bridges regional pilgrimage traditions with a broader international message, capping an intense week of diplomacy and public gathering across France.