French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday welcomed Pope Leo XIV at Orly Airport as church bells rang across France to mark the pontiff’s arrival for a four-day official visit.
The Pope arrived at about 10am and was received by Macron, who joined him for a ceremony featuring military honours and introductions to French and Vatican officials.
The two leaders subsequently travelled to the Élysée Palace for talks.
Leo XIV’s visit, which runs from Friday to Monday, will take him to Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes and Metz, where he is scheduled to meet French officials, civil-society representatives, diplomats and young Catholics.
His programme also includes a visit to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Discussions during the visit are expected to cover the future of Europe, social issues and the role of technology. Artificial intelligence is also expected to feature in the broader discussions, although it is not explicitly listed as a formal item on the published programme.
Church bells rang for seven minutes across the country to welcome the Pope, including at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and churches in Lourdes, Marseille, Lyon and Orléans.
The visit is the first official papal state visit to France since Pope Benedict XVI travelled to the country in September 2008.
On Friday evening, Leo XIV is scheduled to attend a prayer vigil with young people aged between 17 and 35 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
Organisers expect about 80,000 people to attend the gathering.
The Pope’s itinerary will continue with a Mass in Paris before visits to Lourdes and Metz.
In Metz, he is expected to address the theme, “At the roots of Europe for peace and unity,” highlighting issues surrounding peace, European identity and cooperation.
The four-day visit comes as France and the Vatican seek to strengthen dialogue on social, political and humanitarian issues, with the Pope’s programme combining official meetings with engagements with young people and Catholic communities.
