Pope Leo XIV to Visit France in September, Including a Stop at UNESCO Headquarters Facing Budget Challenges

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - The Vatican announced today that Pope Leo XIV will visit France from September 25 to 28, and will visit the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the French capital, Paris. This organization is facing a budget shortfall after the United States withdrew last year. According to Reuters, Leo XIV is the first Pope from the United States, with French immigrants among his ancestors. During this visit, he is very likely to preside over a Mass at the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Notre-Dame Cathedral was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, suffered a devastating fire in 2019, and reopened in 2024 after five years of reconstruction. Leo XIV, who marked his first anniversary in office on the 8th of this month, has recently increased his schedule and delivered more assertive statements. He has drawn dissatisfaction from U.S. President Donald Trump for his criticism of the Iran war. After returning to the White House last year, Trump decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO. The organization stated that its total budget has consequently been reduced by 8%. Since the beginning of this year, Leo XIV has already visited four African countries and Monaco, with a visit to Spain planned for June. The trip to France will be his fourth trip abroad this year. The Holy See has stated that a detailed itinerary will be announced separately.