The French Episcopal Conference has confirmed that it has officially invited Pope Leo XIV to make an apostolic journey to France at the end of next September.
The initiative, driven by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the French episcopate, also has the backing of the President of the French Republic.
As explained by the French Episcopal Conference itself in a statement, several bishops had already conveyed to the Holy Father their desire for him to visit the country shortly after his election a year ago. Finally, Cardinal Aveline formalized the invitation in coordination with the apostolic nuncio.
The proposal also received explicit support from the French president during his meeting with Leo XIV in Rome on April 10.
Paris and Lourdes, among the possible stages of the trip
Although the Holy See has not yet officially announced the trip, the French episcopate is already working on a first outline of the apostolic program.
Cardinal Aveline revealed that he has held several working meetings with the Pontiff to prepare for the possible visit.
“Leo XIV has expressed, on various occasions, the great esteem he feels for our country and its spiritual history,” the cardinal affirmed.
According to the French Episcopal Conference, the Pope could visit Paris and the sanctuary of Lourdes, one of the main Marian pilgrimage centers of the Catholic Church.
“His visit would be an opportunity to share with the Pope what our Church in France is experiencing and to be encouraged by his word,” Aveline added.
A trip awaited by the French Church
The possible visit of Leo XIV would take place at a particularly significant moment for French Catholicism, marked by the challenges of secularization and the need to revitalize ecclesial life.
France also maintains a particularly close historical relationship with the papacy.
Over the last decades, the country has received numerous apostolic visits from various pontiffs, from St. John Paul II to Benedict XVI and Francis.
While awaiting official confirmation from the Vatican, the French bishops have asked all the faithful to accompany with prayer the preparation of this possible apostolic trip of Leo XIV to France.