Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, for a four-day visit, marking the first official state visit by a pope to the country in 18 years. During his opening addresses at the Élysée Palace and UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the pontiff cautioned that a "paradise of machines" could undermine human dignity. He called for ethical regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and questioned the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, stating that peace is built through justice rather than a balance of power.
The visit occurs as French President Emmanuel Macron nears the end of his final term, with elections scheduled for May. While France maintains a strict constitutional separation of church and state, Leo has used the trip to encourage the nation to remember its Christian roots. His visit follows recent French legislative changes, including the 2024 constitutional enshrinement of the right to abortion and the approval of a bill allowing lethal medication for adults with incurable illnesses.
On Saturday, the Vatican estimated that 700,000 people attended a mid-afternoon outdoor Mass at the Place de la Concorde. The event drew larger crowds than the 600,000 who had registered in advance, with attendees lining the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to view the pope's motorcade. The choice of venue drew criticism from some supporters of secularism who noted the square's history as a site of the French Revolution and its traditional use for presidential Bastille Day celebrations.
For the hundreds of thousands of attendees in Paris, the visit represents a rare direct interaction with the head of the Catholic Church on French soil. The event required a security presence that closed central Paris to road traffic, affecting local transportation throughout the weekend. The pope’s specific focus on AI regulation and nuclear policy signals a Vatican effort to influence international policy discussions at a time when French leadership is managing rising national debt, a high cost of living, and a deficit that has contributed to President Macron’s low approval ratings.
The trip continues through the weekend with visits to religious landmarks and meetings. Following the Paris Mass, Leo traveled to the shrine at Lourdes later on Saturday to pray. On Sunday, the pontiff is scheduled to meet with seven French victims of abuse by clergy members at the Lourdes shrine before concluding his four-day tour. The visit serves as a significant diplomatic engagement for President Macron before he leaves office next spring.
What happens next: Following the conclusion of the visit, the French government will move toward national elections in May 2027. The Vatican indicated it hopes to continue the dialogue Leo initiated with technology companies regarding the ethical development of AI. The pope’s appeal for "ethical discernment" in technology comes as several top AI companies have recently signaled an openness to looking for ways to ensure the technology remains a tool for human use rather than a replacement for human agency.