Pope Leo XIV is making his first official visit to France from 25 to 28 September.In the French capital, excitement is building.According to the police prefecture, up to 250,000 people are expected to line the streets along the route of Leo XIV’s procession through the streets of Paris. Around 80,000 people have also bought tickets to attend the youth mass that is set to be held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, in the north of the city.Paris has not welcomed a pope since 2008, when Benedict XVI visited.“Pope Francis visited Strasbourg, Marseille, and Corsica, which are on the outskirts of France,” said Charles Mercier, director of studies in the history and sociology of Catholicism at the École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) in Paris.”But coming to the capital is a big event because it hasn’t happened in a long time. It fuels people’s enthusiasm, and I think that’s one of the reasons for the success of this visit.”Another reason for the enthusiasm is the pontiff’s popularity, which extends far beyond French Catholics. Elected in May 2025, Leo XIV has presented himself as a pope who is connected and attentive to everyone.Leo XIV will be in Paris and the wider Île-de-France region for two days.He is due to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée palace on Friday. He is also set to meet with “the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps” before heading to UNESCO.On Sunday, he is expected in Lourdes, where he is due to speak with seven victims of sexual abuse within the Church.Among them is a former pupil at the nearby school of Notre Dame de Bétharram. In 2024, more than 230 victims filed complaints over corporal punishment and sexual abuse at the Catholic institution in southwestern France.