Pope Leo begins French state visit with speech at Élysée Palace

Pope Leo arrived in France on Thursday, September 25, 2026, to begin a four-day state visit. On the first day of the visit, he delivered a speech in Paris at the Élysée Palace, the official residence and workplace of the French president.

According to a summary compiled by news agency France 24, the Pope's address touched on several topical issues of wide public interest. These reportedly included the subject of war, developments in artificial intelligence, questions of secularism in society and the state, and the topic of surrogacy. These four themes are highlighted as the main points to take away from the Pope's speech.

Context of the visit

The speech took place during an official ceremony at the Élysée Palace, which traditionally serves as the venue for receiving foreign heads of state during high-level visits. The Pope's arrival marks the formal start of his four-day visit to France.

Further details on the specific statements and positions taken on each of the mentioned topics were not fully available in the source material. The remaining schedule and additional stops planned during the visit were not detailed in this report.

The papal visit is considered a significant event for relations between the Catholic Church and France, given the country's historical and political role in Europe.