On Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September 2026, Paris will welcome Pope Leo XIV as part of his first apostolic journey to France. From Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Champs-Élysées, several of the capital’s most iconic landmarks will provide the setting for this exceptional visit.
The programme will include a public procession in the popemobile, a celebration at Notre-Dame and a large open-air Mass on Place de la Concorde and Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
Here are the main stages of the visit and the practical information you need if you wish to attend.
Friday 25 September: From the Élysée Palace to Notre-Dame Cathedral
Pope Leo XIV will arrive at Paris-Orly Airport at 10 a.m. before travelling to the Élysée Palace. There, he will meet the President of the French Republic, followed by representatives of the French authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
At 3 p.m., he will visit UNESCO’s headquarters, located in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, where he will address the attending delegations.
This first part of the day will be reserved for invited guests and official delegations. However, several important moments will be broadcast for the public.
A Popemobile Procession Through Central Paris
The main public event on Friday will take place between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Pope Leo XIV will travel 2.5 kilometres in the popemobile, from Notre-Dame-des-Champs Church to Place Saint-Michel.
The route will begin on Boulevard du Montparnasse, near Notre-Dame-des-Champs Church, before continuing along Boulevard Saint-Michel to Place Saint-Michel.
The entire route will be pedestrianised and divided into 12 secure viewing areas. Each area will have its own security checkpoint, and visitors will not be able to move directly from one section to another.
Access will be free and no booking will be required. Security checkpoints will open from noon, with musical performances and activities planned along the route. Given the expected crowds and security checks, visitors are advised to arrive several hours before the popemobile procession begins.
Large bags, glass bottles, helmets and any objects considered dangerous will be prohibited inside the secure areas.
Vespers at Notre-Dame and a Prayer Vigil at the Stade de France
After the procession, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Notre-Dame Cathedral. At 5.15 p.m., he will celebrate Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and members of consecrated communities from across France.
Access to the cathedral will be reserved for invited guests. However, the Pope is also expected to greet the public on the cathedral’s forecourt, while the celebration will be broadcast live.
Later that evening, the Pope will travel to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis for a prayer vigil with young people aged between 17 and 35. The event will begin at 9 p.m. and advance registration will be required.
Saturday 26 September: An Open-Air Mass on the Champs-Élysées
On Saturday morning, Pope Leo XIV will first visit Maison Bakhita, a social support and integration centre in Paris’s 18th arrondissement.
He will then meet members of the provincial synodal assembly, together with catechumens and newly baptised Catholics, at the Institut Catholique de Paris.
The main event of the second day will begin at 3 p.m. Pope Leo XIV will preside over a solemn open-air Mass on Place de la Concorde and Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
The celebration will be free and open to everyone. Advance registration is nevertheless strongly recommended, as it will help organisers distribute visitors across the different viewing areas and share the latest practical information before the event.
Several hundred thousand people are expected to attend. Most participants will remain standing during the celebration, and registration will not constitute a reservation for a seat or a specific location.
After the Mass, Pope Leo XIV will leave Paris-Orly Airport at 5.45 p.m. to continue his apostolic journey to Lourdes and then Metz.
How to Prepare for the Pope’s Visit
The visit will result in major traffic restrictions around the different locations on the itinerary, particularly the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, Île de la Cité and the area surrounding Notre-Dame Cathedral.
On 26 September, the area between Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées will be closed to traffic. Some metro stations may also be closed or particularly busy.
Visitors are therefore advised to travel on foot where possible, arrive well in advance and consult the latest instructions issued by the City of Paris and the organisers. The official programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France will be updated if any times or access arrangements change.
Where to Stay Near the Champs-Élysées During the Pope’s Visit
For visitors planning to attend the Mass on Saturday 26 September, staying in the Étoile neighbourhood is a particularly convenient option that helps minimise travel on the day of the event.
Located at 12 rue Christophe-Colomb, Helzear Étoile by Esteem is only a few minutes’ walk from the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. The property offers 29 suites and apartments with kitchenettes inside a Haussmann-style building in Paris’s 8th arrondissement.
A few streets away, Helzear Champs-Élysées by Esteem is located at 49 avenue Marceau and also provides convenient walking access to Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
Both addresses provide an ideal base from which to experience this exceptional event in central Paris, while offering the comfort and tranquillity of a private suite after a particularly busy day in the capital.