Pope Leo XIV Embarks on First French Visit in 18 Years Amid Assisted Dying and Abuse Debates

The first papal state visit to France in nearly two decades arrives as the Church grapples with deeply divisive domestic challenges.

Published On 25 Sep 202625 Sep 2026

Pope Leo XIV is set to begin a four-day official visit to France, marking the first papal trip to the country in nearly two decades.

The itinerary opens in Paris on Friday with a meeting at the Élysée Palace alongside President Emmanuel Macron, followed by addresses to French officials and civil society representatives.

As the first American pope, he will center his message on human dignity while navigating France’s recently enacted assisted dying legislation and the enduring consequences of clerical sexual abuse.

Following the presidential meeting, the pontiff will speak at UNESCO, attend Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral, and participate in a youth vigil at the Stade de France.

Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the French bishops’ conference, stated that “the defence of the dignity of human life” would anchor the pope’s message.

In August, France formally established a right to assisted dying for adults with serious, incurable illnesses under strict conditions, a measure the Catholic Church opposed on the grounds that life must be protected from conception to natural death.

Nevertheless, Martin Dumont, secretary-general of a French religion research institute, told AFP he would be “very surprised” if the pope took a confrontational approach to the topic.

On Sunday in Lourdes, Leo is expected to meet seven survivors of clerical sexual abuse. A landmark 2021 independent inquiry estimated that approximately 330,000 individuals had been abused as minors by clergy or church-associated figures over seven decades.

Retired French Bishop Marc Stenger told Reuters that the scandals had “wounded the church deeply and damaged its credibility.”

Survivors have continued to demand greater accountability from church leaders, even as compensation and safeguarding measures have been introduced in recent years.

The visit occurs as the Catholic Church attempts to assert its voice in a nation characterized by deep secularism and waning influence over public policy.

Beyond domestic issues, the pope’s agenda includes a visit to a Paris migrant support center, a speech on artificial intelligence, and a concluding meeting in Metz on Europe’s role in fostering peace and unity.

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