Pope Leo XIV Leaves From Rome for France, and Rome Counts the Cost

Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome on September 25 for a four-day visit to France, the first official papal state visit there in 18 years, according to Le Monde. The paper reported that he will travel on a specially chartered plane carrying 80 journalists, under a highly codified ritual in which reporters who are practising Catholics sometimes step outside the press pool.

The Conversation, in an opinion piece, set out the agenda: an address to young people at the Stade de France, following John Paul II's 1980 appearance there, remarks on artificial intelligence, and a tribute to social Catholicism and the legacy of Robert Schuman, a founding figure of European and Christian democracy.

The Conversation also drew a distinction the Vatican itself observes: this is an apostolic journey rather than a state visit, though as head of state of Vatican City the pope will be received by President Emmanuel Macron and other French political leaders. The author noted that the timing, well before France's presidential campaign, may limit attempts to exploit the visit for the Catholic vote.