Pope Léon XIV will visit France from Friday, September 25, to Monday, September 28, marking his fifth apostolic journey since being elected in May 2025. The trip, guided by the motto "For the world to have life," combines spiritual and diplomatic objectives. The journey begins in Paris, where the pope will be received at the Élysée Palace by French President Emmanuel Macron. He will then visit UNESCO headquarters and attend vespers—Christian evening prayer—at Notre-Dame de Paris, in the company of clergy and seminarians. Later that evening, he will address 80,000 young people at the Stade de France, creating a stark contrast in atmosphere and audience. On Saturday, September 26, a large mass will be held at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées, expected to draw over 600,000 people. This attendance, if confirmed, will surpass expectations and require increased security measures. While Macron will welcome the pope at the Élysée Palace, he will not attend any of the subsequent religious events, a notable change from 2023, when he and his wife, Brigitte Macron, attended a mass by Pope Francis in Marseille. This time, only Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will be present at the events. On Sunday, September 27, Pope Léon XIV will visit Lourdes, a pilgrimage site in southern France, where he will pray at the Massabielle grotto and lead a mass at the Prairie of the sanctuary. He will also meet privately with seven individuals who were victims of sexual violence within the Church. However, the National Independent Institute for Recognition and Reparation (Inirr), which supports victims of such abuse, noted that the pope had "missed" a planned meeting with several groups. Marie Derain de Vaucresson, an Inirr representative, explained that while small meetings can be meaningful, a broader statement might have been appropriate given the seriousness of the issue. About forty groups had requested an audience, but none were granted. In 2021, the Church of France acknowledged its "institutional responsibility" for past abuses, and the Inirr was established that year to assist victims. However, it has since been replaced by a new mechanism that some victim groups view skeptically. The trip takes on a symbolic tone in Metz, where the pope will conclude his visit. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF), explained to Le Figaro that the choice of Metz, rather than Strasbourg, was intentional. The pope wanted to address the peoples of Europe from the "sources of their founding intuitions," referencing Robert Schuman, a key figure in European unification, who is currently being considered for beatification. Metz, a city historically marked by conflict and reconciliation, represents this vision of unity. Before a peace mass at the Saint-Étienne cathedral, Pope Léon XIV will hold an interreligious meeting at the Robert Schuman Congress Center, where six religious leaders from different faiths will sign a joint declaration with him. He will then deliver a speech to European leaders on peace and the future of Europe, emphasizing the importance of dialogue between religions and nations. Choosing Metz for this event underscores the pope's desire to address France and all of Europe with a message that transcends Catholicism alone.