Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic visit to France continued on Saturday, September 26, with a series of meetings in Paris. After his engagements in the capital, the head of the Catholic Church departed for Lourdes, one of Catholicism’s most important pilgrimage sites.
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The morning’s schedule included a visit to the Maison Bakhita reception center, where the Pope met representatives of the migrant community. He then met catechumens—adults preparing to receive the sacrament of baptism—at the Catholic Institute of Paris.
Founded in 2018 by the Archdiocese of Paris, Maison Bakhita aims to support the reception and integration of migrants.
During his visit to the center, Leo XIV recalled Saint Bakhita, the formerly enslaved Sudanese woman who was canonized, highlighting women’s contribution to building a “civilization of love.” He expressed gratitude to those who work there and emphasized the need for places where people can find support, trust and hope.
“No one is so poor that they have nothing to give; no one is so rich that they have nothing to receive,” the Pope said.
During his meeting with the catechumens, the Pope said he was surprised by the number of people returning to the faith, particularly adults seeking to receive the sacraments of Christian initiation.
He said this development was especially significant in France, where society is marked by a high level of secularization. He described their experience as living testimony to the work of God’s grace, beyond statistical and sociological explanations.
Figures from the French Bishops’ Conference show that 21,386 catechumens were baptized in France at Easter this year. Of those, 13,234 were adults and 8,152 were adolescents.
The overall number was up about 20% compared with 2025. The increase was about 28% among adults and about 10% among adolescents.
Leo XIV urged Catholic communities to accompany young people and adults coming to the faith with appropriate spiritual formation.
In the afternoon, the Pope celebrated Mass at Place de la Concorde. Around 700,000 faithful attended the ceremony, while large crowds greeted him along the Champs-Élysées, from the Arc de Triomphe to the square, with flags and hymns.
Addressing young people, the Pope called them “the Church of today” and praised their enthusiasm and energy.
He urged French Catholics not to confine their faith to a private experience but to make it a source of hope for society.
“Do not keep your faith in Jesus Christ only to yourselves, but let it flow out to nourish and fill with hope the people you meet,” Leo XIV said.
He also stressed that believers should bring hope “where discouragement and spiritual dryness prevail.”
After completing his engagements in Paris, the Pope departed for Lourdes in southwestern France. There, he is expected to visit the renowned Marian shrine and lead prayers at the grotto where, according to Catholic tradition, Saint Bernadette Soubirous experienced apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
The stay in Lourdes is one of the main events of Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to France.
Those attending the ceremony in Paris included former President Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the Republicans Bruno Retailleau, Île-de-France regional president Valérie Pécresse, former Prime Minister François Fillon, Gabriel Attal, Dominique de Villepin and Eric Zemmour.
Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, Marine Le Pen and current Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu were also expected to attend.
President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the Mass. The French presidency had previously announced that he would not attend any of the Masses held during the visit.
