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Pope Leo XIV's Paris Visit Teaches Art of Saying No

12:07 AM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV declines full state honors during his visit to France, opting for a simpler apostolic journey.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, is set to visit France from September 25 to 28, but he has declined the full state honors Emmanuel Macron had hoped to bestow upon him.

Ahead of the pontiff's arrival, Macron had reportedly planned a state visit, complete with all the highest honors France could offer. However, Pope Leo XIV has chosen a more modest approach, focusing on religious and community engagements.

The Pope's itinerary includes meetings at the Élysée Palace, vespers at Notre-Dame, and a youth vigil at the Stade de France. He will also hold an open-air Mass at the Place de la Concorde, expected to draw over 600,000 people.

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris announced that the Pope's outdoor Mass is expected to exceed all expectations, highlighting the enthusiasm of the faithful.

The Pope's visit also includes stops at UNESCO headquarters and the shrine of Lourdes, emphasizing his commitment to addressing social and political issues.

In a statement, Ulrich expressed joy and gratitude to the faithful for their enthusiastic response to the Pope's invitation, underscoring the significance of the Pope's visit.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to France follows his recent call for a renewed commitment to peace, marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S.

Pope Leo XIV's message to seminarians in the Vatican, encouraging them to ground their formation in a deep personal relationship with God, reflects his broader approach to leadership and faith.

The Pope's visit to France highlights his role in addressing complex social and political issues, as well as his commitment to the faithful and the broader community.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, is set to visit France from September 25 to 28, but he has declined the full state honors Emmanuel Macron had hoped to bestow upon him.
• Ahead of the pontiff's arrival, Macron had reportedly planned a state visit, complete with all the highest honors France could offer. However, Pope Leo XIV has chosen a more modest approach, focusing on religious and community engagements.
• The Pope's itinerary includes meetings at the Élysée Palace, vespers at Notre-Dame, and a youth vigil at the Stade de France. He will also hold an open-air Mass at the Place de la Concorde, expected to draw over 600,000 people.
• Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris announced that the Pope's outdoor Mass is expected to exceed all expectations, highlighting the enthusiasm of the faithful.
• The Pope's visit also includes stops at UNESCO headquarters and the shrine of Lourdes, emphasizing his commitment to addressing social and political issues.
• In a statement, Ulrich expressed joy and gratitude to the faithful for their enthusiastic response to the Pope's invitation, underscoring the significance of the Pope's visit.
• Pope Leo XIV's visit to France follows his recent call for a renewed commitment to peace, marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S.
• Pope Leo XIV's message to seminarians in the Vatican, encouraging them to ground their formation in a deep personal relationship with God, reflects his broader approach to leadership and faith.
• The Pope's visit to France highlights his role in addressing complex social and political issues, as well as his commitment to the faithful and the broader community.

What's still developing

• Pope Leo XIV shows how to do it on a presidential scale.
• France was offering the Pope some of the highest honors at its disposal, which makes Leo's apparent preference for a simpler apostolic visit all the more interesting.
• But as Pope Leo XIV prepares for his first apostolic visit to France, he may have something surprisingly useful to teach us about the delicate art of saying no.
• Macron will welcome the Pope to the Élysée, where the two men will meet and Leo will address political leaders, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
• This decision was made based on reliable information about the participation of the faithful from Paris and across France.
• He will also hold four flights over the course of his journey, visiting Paris, Lourdes, and Metz.
• Through parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable works, Christians are called to “put the Gospel into practice” by welcoming and supporting those in need.
• “Do not be afraid of your smallness”: This was the encouragement offered by Pope Leo XIV to the bishops of the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA), who were received in audience at the Vatican on September 3, 2026.
• The Pope highlighted the “vast and complex reality” they face in the 17 countries under their jurisdiction, which are marked by “political, social, and religious tensions.” He urged them to continue their mission despite the small size of their communities and the hardships endured by the people under their care.
• Pope Leo XIV paid special tribute to the many Christians who have died as witnesses to the faith in these regions.
• “The heart of the seminary experience lies here: learning to be with the Master, the Lord Jesus,” the pope said in an audience with Italian seminarians in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.
• “Every vocation is born from an intimate dialogue with God, cultivated in silence and prayer, which often occurs despite the sometimes deafening noise of the world,” the pope said.

Sources

• Warpbeatlink
• aleteia.orglink
• Aleteialink
• Thecatholicspiritlink
• Thenewsnowlink
• Beaconnjlink
• OSV Newslink
• Cruxnowlink
• Friarslink
• Newwaysministrylink
• Catholicsunlink
• Thecatholicheraldlink
• Religionnewslink
• Ewtnnewslink
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV's Paris Visit Teaches Art of Saying No link
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo’s Paris lesson in the art of saying “no” link
• Sameer Alam — video link