Pope Leo XIV is set to arrive in France this weekend for his first official visit since becoming pontiff, marking the first papal state visit to the country since 2008. The four-day trip, beginning Saturday, will include a high-profile open-air mass held at the Place de la Concorde and the adjoining Champs-Elysees in central Paris, where a large white canopy has already been erected to accommodate the event.

As the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, Pope Leo XIV’s visit carries significant symbolic weight, especially given his personal connection to France through his paternal grandmother. The nation, historically Catholic, has witnessed a sharp decline in religious observance in recent years, with only about 5 percent of France’s 69 million people attending Catholic church regularly.

During his visit, Pope Leo XIV is expected to address a range of pressing issues confronting the church and society. Topics on his agenda include the ongoing challenges of clerical sexual abuse, the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence, the migration crisis affecting Europe, and efforts to promote peace across the continent.

The papal mass in Paris is anticipated to be a focal point of the visit, drawing public attention to the enduring cultural and religious influence of Catholicism in France despite diminishing church attendance. The visit also highlights the Vatican’s engagement with contemporary global concerns and its role in international dialogue.

Pope Leo XIV’s presence in France aims to reaffirm connections with the French Catholic community while addressing broader themes that resonate both within the church and in wider society. The visit underscores the Vatican’s continued emphasis on confronting modern challenges and fostering reconciliation at a time of significant change within France and the global Catholic population.