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Pope Leo XIV to visit France in September, including a stop at UNESCO headquarters

Pope Leo XIV speaks aboard the papal plane from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Rome, following an 11-day trip in Africa, April 23, 2026. | Credit: Patrick Leonard/EWTN News.
Pope Leo XIV speaks aboard the papal plane from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Rome, following an 11-day trip in Africa, April 23, 2026. | Credit: Patrick Leonard/EWTN News.

The visit will mark the popeʼs fifth international apostolic journey.

Pope Leo XIV will undertake an apostolic journey to France from Sept. 25 – 28, a visit which will include a stop at the headquarters of UNESCO.

The trip was officially announced on May 16 by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. The Holy See did not immediately release the full itinerary of the trip.

The visit will mark the popeʼs fifth international apostolic journey.

The pope has already visited Turkey and Lebanon (in late 2025) and Monte Carlo (in March 2026).

In April he undertook a major voyage to Africa — with the trip spanning Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea — and is scheduled to visit Spain from June 6 – 12.

He is widely expected to also visit Latin America in the fall.

The last visit by a pope to France dates to Dec. 15, 2024, when Pope Francis traveled to Ajaccio, Corsica.

This story was originally published by ACI Stampa, EWTN News’ Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Marco Mancini

Journalist based in Rome. He worked for 'Area' Press Agency, dealing with internal politics, economics but above all with the Vatican. Accredited at the Press Office of the Holy See, professional journalist since 2008, he followed the conclaves of 2005 and 2013. Currently works for ACI Stampa, EWTN News agency in Italian. He is the author, together with his colleague Andrea Gagliarducci, of "La Quaresima della Chiesa", and "Benedetto XVI, a total Pope".

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