Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to land in France this weekend, and his itinerary includes a stop at the famed Lourdes shrine, a destination that draws millions of sick and hopeful pilgrims each year.
French law on abortion and assisted dying
In 2024 the French National Assembly amended the constitution to guarantee a right to abortion, marking a historic change in the nation’s legal framework. That same year legislators also approved a bill that permits adults with incurable illnesses to obtain lethal medication, thereby ending a long-standing debate over end-of-life care.
Catholic teaching holds that human life is sacred from conception until natural death. It makes a distinction between “ordinary” care, such as feeding and hydration, and “extraordinary” treatment that may be withheld when it merely prolongs suffering without offering a reasonable hope of recovery.
The bishops’ conference selected the motto “That the world may have life” for the papal visit. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, who leads the conference, explained that the phrase reflects the Gospel’s call to respect life in every form.
France’s 1905 law separates church and state, creating a secular public sphere despite the country’s deep Catholic heritage. Organizers estimate that attendance at the pope’s September 25-28 trip could reach one million people.
To manage the expected crowds, authorities have enlarged the perimeter for the main Mass at Place de la Concorde, extending the area beyond the traditional 1.9-kilometer stretch of the Champs-Élysées where the popemobile will travel.
After a warm reception in Spain, where the pontiff received a seven-minute standing ovation in parliament, Vatican official Sister Nathalie Becquart noted the growing public interest, observing that people are watching the events that unfolded in Spain.
Adult baptisms have surged, with more than 13,000 adults baptized at Easter, representing a three-fold increase since 2016. Yet overall baptisms have fallen from 513,000 in 1980 to 186,000 this year, highlighting a clear generational shift.
Many of the newly baptized adults are drawn to the traditional Latin Mass, which has seen renewed interest among conservative younger Catholics seeking a more reverent liturgy.
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AI, peace and the papal agenda
On his first day in France, the pope will address UNESCO on artificial intelligence, echoing his encyclical “Magnificent Humanity,” which calls for strong regulation and a slower pace of development.
He will also speak about the vital role of education and the arts in shaping a humane digital future, showing how culture and learning must guide technological progress.
In the encyclical, Leo urged developers to adopt robust safeguards and collectively pause rapid advances, a stance they have recently taken as a group.
The final stop on the last day of the visit is the city of Metz, the birthplace of European integration pioneer Robert Schuman. There he will join faith leaders for a conference on peace amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere.
The Vatican has announced that the pontiff will meet seven survivors of clergy sexual abuse, including an adult victim, marking a new focus on older survivors of the crisis.
In Lourdes, the façade of the Notre Dame du Rosaire Basilica was designed by Rev. Marko Rupnik, who is currently on trial in a Vatican court over abuse allegations. Bishop Jean-Marc Micas decided to no longer illuminate the façade at night.
Historical and doctrinal backdrop
The 2004 pilgrimage was his final foreign trip, and the shrine’s reputation as one of Christianity’s most-visited pilgrimage sites stems from its long-standing association with miraculous cures that draw countless sick and hopeful visitors.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to echo that forceful appeal, urging protection of life at every stage as he kneels at the same altar this weekend.
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