Pope Leo departs from Rome, arrives in Paris; recalls Blessed Fulton Sheen’s influence

September 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV departed for France this morning at 7:58 local time as he embarked on the fifth apostolic journey of his pontificate.

The Pontiff’s apostolic journey to France (September 25-28) is scheduled to take him to Paris, Saint Denis, Lourdes, and Metz. It follows apostolic journeys to Turkey and Lebanon (November 27—December 2, 2025), Monaco (March 28, 2026), Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea (April 13-23), and Spain (June 6-12). Pope Leo also made six pastoral visits to Italian cities this year; one of the visits included a brief stop in San Marino.

During this morning’s flight from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport to Paris Orly Airport, Pope Leo sent customary telegrams to President Sergio Mattarella of Italy and President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland as he flew through their nations’ airspace.

In a brief greeting to journalists, Pope Leo said that “I am above all travelling to France, as to anywhere else in the world, as a follower of Jesus Christ wanting to proclaim peace, the peace of Christ throughout the world.”

The Pontiff fielded questions from journalists about artificial intelligence, natural disasters, a college basketball game, and Blessed Fulton Sheen.

“We watched him as a family, and it was a way of spending some time together as a family with the truth, the teachings that he shared in such a enthusiastic, lively way, especially considering that day and age watching on TV, this Catholic bishop, who was originally from Illinois,” PopeLeo recalled. “The message that he had was something that really came home to people. I think it helped us as a family, for example.”The Pope arrived in Paris at 9:56 local time and was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron (video).

 

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Further information:

• Departure from Rome, Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, Telegram to the President of the Swiss Confederation, and Official Welcome at Paris Orly International Airport (Holy See Press Office, 9/25/26)
• Pope Leo XIV begins his Apostolic Journey to France (Vatican News, 9/25/26)
• Apostolic Journey to France: Words of the Holy Father to Journalists during the Flight to Paris (Dicastery for Communication - Vatican Media, 9/25/26)
• Words of the Holy Father during the flight from Rome to Paris (Holy See Press Office, 9/25/26)
• Pope aboard papal plane: ‘I travel to France to proclaim Christ’s peace’ (Vatican News, 9/25/26)