Pope Leo is set to travel to France from September 25 to 28, according to an announcement from the Vatican on Saturday, with a visit to UNESCO headquarters in Paris forming a
notable part of the itinerary. The UN cultural agency has been grappling with budget shortfalls following the United States’ decision to withdraw from the organization last year under President Donald Trump.
The withdrawal has left UNESCO facing an estimated loss of around 8% of its overall budget, adding pressure to its global cultural and educational initiatives.
The trip marks a continued acceleration in Leo’s international engagements since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church, which counts 1.4 billion members worldwide. He recently marked one year in office and has taken a more visible and outspoken role on global issues, including criticism of the Iran conflict—remarks that have drawn pushback from Trump.
French Church officials had previously signaled that a papal visit was under consideration for September, mentioning destinations such as Paris and Lourdes, though UNESCO’s inclusion had not been confirmed until now.
During the visit, Leo is also expected to celebrate Mass at Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral, a landmark that reopened in 2024 after restoration work following the devastating 2019 fire. The cathedral, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, remains one of the most symbolic religious and cultural monuments in Europe.
The Vatican is expected to release a detailed program at a later date. Pope Leo may also meet French President Emmanuel Macron and is being considered for an address to the French parliament.
This will be Leo’s fourth foreign trip of the year, following a multi-country tour in Africa, a visit to Monaco, and a planned June trip to Spain, where he is expected to highlight the situation of migrants entering Europe.
The last official papal visit to France was made by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. Pope Francis, who died in April 2025, visited French territory on several occasions but never conducted an official state visit.
Born Robert Prevost, Pope Leo has personal ancestral ties to French immigrants to the United States, adding a symbolic layer to his upcoming visit. Photo by Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar, Wikimedia commons.