Schedule released: Pope Leo to visit Lourdes, Notre Dame during September apostolic journey to France

The Holy See Press Office has released the full schedule for Pope Leo’s four-day apostolic visit to France this September, when he will travel to the restored Notre Dame Cathedral, meet privately with several survivors of abuse as he did in Spain, and pray at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

The Holy Father’s trip will begin Sept. 25, first traveling to Paris, where he will meet with President Emanuel Macron, as well as authorities and diplomatic corps at the Élysée Palace. The Pontiff will give an address at the latter audience, followed by a visit to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the organization’s headquarters. 

In the evening, Pope Leo will celebrate Vespers with clergy, seminarians, and consecrated religious at Notre Dame Cathedral and give a homily. He will conclude the first day of the visit with a prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and deliver an address there as well. 

On Sept. 26, Pope Leo will visit the Maison Bakhita Center for Social Support and Integration. According to Vatican News, the center was established in 2021 in response to Pope Francis’ 2017 call to “welcome, protect, promote and integrate” every migrant. The news outlet reports that the center hosts or directly delivers support and advocacy programs for people who live in exile. After this, Pope Leo will meet with members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly, catechumens and the newly baptized at the Catholic University of Paris. 

The Pontiff will then celebrate Mass at the Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris. In the afternoon, Pope Leo will fly to Lourdes, where he will pray at the grotto where the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette. 

On Sept. 27, Pope Leo will meet with the bishops of the French Episcopal Conference at the Saint Bernadette auditorium at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and give an address. Following this, he will celebrate Mass in the shrine’s prairie, according to Vatican News. He will also lead the noon Angelus. 

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Pope Leo will then meet with the staff and community of Accueil Notre Dame at the shrine. Vatican News reports that Accueil is a specialized residential healthcare facility, as well as a welcome center for pilgrims. He will then have a private meeting with the contemplative religious sisters at the Carmelite Monastery of Lourdes and conclude the evening with a torchlight procession and rosary recitation at the Lourdes shrine. 

On his final day in France, Pope Leo will fly to the historic northeastern city of Metz, where he will attend an interreligious meeting at the “Robert Schuman” Conference Center and give an address. At the center he will also speak during a meeting titled “To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity.” 

Vatican News reports that the Holy See Press Office announced separately that during the trip the Holy Father will also hold a private meeting with several survivors of abuse in the Church. The survivors helped prepare the meeting, the office noted. No further details about the date or location have been released. 

Concluding his apostolic visit in France, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen, which was built more than 800 years ago. He will depart for Rome following a farewell ceremony at the Metz-Nancy-Lorraine International Airport.

According to the Aug. 7 Vatican News report, the Archdiocese of Paris aims to have 10,000 volunteers assist in welcoming participants during the journey and organizing the visit. The outlet reports that the president of the French Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, said that the bishops have worked with the Holy See and other involved parties for several months to finalize the program’s itinerary and that it is “a great joy” to share it with all of France.