Pope Leo to visit France with AI, Europe and Church’s standing on agenda

Paris, France. Pope Leo leaves on Friday for a September 25–28 visit to France, where he hopes to repair the Catholic Church’s standing after abuse scandals. He is also expected to renew calls for global rules on AI development and set out a vision for Europe’s future.

Visit expected to draw large crowds

The first US pope will visit Paris, the Catholic shrine at Lourdes in southwestern France, and Metz, a city on the German border that was central to the founding of the European Union.

About 600,000 people have registered for an outdoor Mass with Leo in central Paris on Saturday, with crowds expected to stretch down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Retired French Bishop Marc Stenger told Reuters the visit had sparked a “real tidal wave” of interest.

Speeches to French leaders and UNESCO staff

On Friday, Leo is due to address President Emmanuel Macron and other French leaders at the Élysée Palace, as well as staff at UNESCO headquarters. The UN culture and education agency faces budget shortfalls after US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2025. Leo drew Trump’s ire earlier this year after criticizing the Iran war.

Leo has made the risks of AI a major concern of his papacy and has called for global rules to oversee the industry. He is expected to address the issue at UNESCO. Speaking at the Vatican on Thursday, he said AI could benefit humanity but had introduced “new dangers to security and international peace”, and urged world leaders to “govern wisely” in overseeing the technology.

Disputes over French laws

The visit comes amid disagreements between Catholic leaders in France and the government over the 2024 enshrining of a right to abortion in the French constitution, a world first, and a law passed earlier this year legalizing assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses.

The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred and opposes abortion, assisted dying and capital punishment.