Pope Leo XIV is set to begin a four-day official visit to France on Friday, marking the first papal visit to the country in 18 years. The visit will commence in Paris, where the Pope will meet with President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace and address French officials and civil society.
The Pope's message will focus on human dignity as the Catholic Church in France addresses a newly enacted assisted dying law and the ongoing impact of clerical sexual abuse. After the meeting with Macron, the Pope will deliver an address at UNESCO, attend a service at Notre-Dame Cathedral, and participate in a youth vigil at the Stade de France.
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, head of the French bishops’ conference, stated that “the defence of the dignity of human life” will be central to the Pope’s message. In August, France enacted a law granting a right to assisted dying under specific conditions for adults with serious and incurable illnesses, a measure that faced significant opposition from the Catholic Church, which advocates for the protection of life from conception until natural death.
Martin Dumont, secretary-general of a religion research institute in France, expressed skepticism that the Pope would take a confrontational approach regarding the assisted dying law. On Sunday, Leo is expected to meet with seven survivors of clerical sexual abuse in Lourdes. A 2021 independent inquiry estimated that around 330,000 individuals had been abused as minors by clergy or others associated with the French Catholic Church over the past 70 years.
Retired French Bishop Marc Stenger noted that the scandals have “wounded the church deeply and damaged its credibility.” Survivors continue to advocate for increased accountability from church leaders despite the introduction of compensation and safeguarding measures in recent years.
Pope Leo's visit occurs as the Catholic Church aims to assert its influence in a nation characterized by a strong tradition of secularism and diminishing church impact on public policy. In addition to addressing domestic issues, the Pope will visit a Paris center supporting migrants, discuss artificial intelligence, and conclude his trip in Metz with a meeting focused on Europe’s role in promoting peace and unity.