Paris shuts streets and clears bikes ahead of Pope Leo XIV visit
Paris police have begun closing streets and removing bicycles along the route Pope Leo XIV is expected to walk, while security is tightened around Notre-Dame cathedral.
Ahead of a visit by Pope Leo XIV, police in Paris have started enforcing parking bans along the streets he is expected to walk through during his time in the city. Officers were seen setting up barriers and police tape, cutting bicycle locks, and clearing bikes from parking spots along Boulevard Saint-Michel.
Signs were placed along the route warning drivers and cyclists that parking is prohibited in the affected areas.
Security tightened at Notre-Dame
Security preparations were also visible around Notre-Dame cathedral, where seating was being installed ahead of the pope's visit. A bomb disposal vehicle was spotted stationed outside the cathedral as part of the heightened security measures.
Nearby, the Notre-Dame-des-Champs church displayed a banner welcoming the pope to Paris, reflecting local anticipation of the visit. The scale of the preparations suggests the French capital is bracing for significant disruption to traffic and pedestrian movement in the city center during the papal walk.
