Pope Leo XIV to Visit France as Church Faces Decline

Pope Leo XIV will visit France in 2026, with stops planned in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, according to the official schedule. Étienne Guillet, France's youngest bishop, called the visit a great joy and a source of pride for the whole country. French churches will ring their bells for seven minutes on Friday morning to mark the occasion. The visit comes amid alarming figures showing a decline in French Catholicism.