Pope Leo XIV is likely to travel to France at the end of September, the country's Catholic bishops announced on Wednesday, according to a report by France24.
The French bishops' conference released a statement indicating the pontiff is expected to visit both Lourdes, the renowned Catholic pilgrimage site in southwestern France, and the capital Paris. No official confirmation from the Vatican has been reported at this stage.
If confirmed, the visit would represent the second time Pope Leo XIV has traveled to a European Union member state outside of Italy since assuming the papacy. The trip would mark a significant moment for French Catholics, who have long regarded Lourdes as one of the most spiritually important destinations in the Catholic world.
A pilgrimage destination of global significance
Lourdes draws millions of pilgrims each year from across the globe. The town in the Hautes-Pyrenees department has been a central site of Catholic devotion since the 19th century, when a series of reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary drew international attention.
A papal visit to the site would carry considerable symbolic weight, reinforcing the Catholic Church's connection to one of its most visited and venerated shrines.
Early papal travel takes shape
The reported France trip would offer further insight into the geographic and pastoral priorities of the new pontiff's early tenure. Papal visits to major European nations are closely watched both for their religious significance and their potential diplomatic dimensions, as the Holy See maintains formal relations with governments across the continent.
France, despite its constitutional tradition of strict secularism known as laicite, retains a large nominal Catholic population and a deep historical relationship with the Church.
Further details about the itinerary, including specific dates and events planned around the visit, have not yet been made public. The Vatican has not officially confirmed the trip as of the time of reporting.
