Pope, at Notre-Dame Cathedral, calls France’s priests, religious to missionary conversion

September 26, 2026

An estimated 300,000 people lined the streets of Paris as Pope Leo XIV traveled from UNESCO headquarters to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame late in the afternoon of September 25 (video). There, the Pontiff adored the Blessed Sacrament, venerated Christ’s Crown of Thorns, and celebrated Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, religious and seminarians (video).

“We are gathered for Evening Prayer in this place which, more than any other, has invited the people of Paris for centuries to lift their eyes towards heaven,” Pope Leo preached on the evening of the first day of his apostolic journey to France. “Seven years have passed since the whole world, holding its breath, watched as the cathedral was engulfed in a terrible fire. At that time, we also watched anxiously, conscious of how powerless humans are in the face of the unforeseen. That pain was felt not only by Catholics, nor only by believers.”

“The rebuilding of the Cathedral was an opportunity for an encounter that has expanded horizons of welcome and participation beyond the boundaries of ecclesial affiliation,” the Pope continued. “Dear bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, seminarians of France, let yourselves be inspired by what has happened here! Make the vision of Evangelii Gaudium your priority, namely the missionary conversion which Pope Francis spoke of in his first Apostolic Exhortation.”

The Pope commented:

Dear friends, it is from the Incarnation—“God sent forth his Son”—that the identity of the Church flows, for she is called always to be a Church “going forth”. As disciples of Christ, you know well that the Christian community is not a refuge into which we withdraw in order to protect ourselves from our age. On the contrary, like the cathedrals of old, the Church is a place of welcome, respect, revelation and meaning for everyone.

The strength of a living Church lies in welcoming those on the peripheries who already have a place in her heart; welcoming those who are far away but in reality are already near; welcoming the stranger, in whom Christ is already knocking at the door. If Notre-Dame is a sign of this encounter at the heart of Paris, then the other cities and regions of France, even the most remote and rural, can be transformed all the more by a simple and welcoming missionary presence. Such a presence can help to bring cultural differences into harmony and to heal the wounds present in our societies.

Turning to the theme of the sacred liturgy, the Pope preached that “at the same time, brothers and sisters, we must not forget that this Cathedral, like every other church, was built for the purpose of prayer and the worship of God. It is the place where the Christian community celebrates the highest form of prayer and worship, renewing in the Eucharist the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. This Cathedral is not merely a stone structure to be admired; instead, it lives by the sacred mystery celebrated within it. Without the liturgy, it would lose its soul.”

The Pope continued:

To you who celebrate the Eucharist each day, I ask you to ensure that the liturgical celebrations are always carried out with dignity and reverence, even where smaller communities gather. Be conscious heirs of the Church Fathers and saints who, over the centuries, have handed down to us the profound meaning and beauty of the liturgy, always giving an example of great humility before the Mystery that is celebrated.

The Second Vatican Council, whose richness owes much to France, gathered up and deepened this heritage in an eminent way, recognizing the liturgy’s central role in the life of the Church. I therefore exhort all of you, bishops, priests, deacons and consecrated persons, to cultivate an authentic love for the liturgy and to be witnesses and servants of the prophetic, priestly and kingly vocation of the entire People of God.

After discussing the importance of prayer and the interior life, the Pope concluded:

Let us lift our eyes towards the fourteenth-century statue of the Virgin and Child, which was untouched by the fire and now shines once again before us. May Mary, who carried the Word in her womb, keep you faithful, and may she be the star that guides the mission of the Church in France. Holy Mary, Our Lady of Paris and Mother of the Church, pray for the French people, sustain their pastors, and walk always at our side.

 

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Further information:

• Celebration of Vespers with the Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Consecrated Men and Women, and Seminarians (Dicastery for Communication - Vatican Media, 9/25/26)
• Celebration of Vespers with the Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Consecrated Men and Women, and Seminarians
• Pope calls clergy, religious of France to missionary conversion (Vatican News, 9/25/26)
• Inside the restoration of Notre-Dame: a labor of love and faith (Vatican News, 9/25/26)
• Where light meets heaven: Pope Leo XIV at Notre-Dame (Vatican News, 9/25/26)