Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France will be secured by 15,000 officers — Dawn
Pope Leo XIV will visit France on September 25–28, 2026. The programme includes events at Notre-Dame Cathedral and on the Champs-Élysées. About 15,000 security personnel will be deployed to ensure the visit’s safety, Dawn reports, citing AFP.
Preparations for the trip, which will be the first papal visit to Paris since 2008, began long before its official announcement. Countries invite the pontiff, but the Vatican decides on a visit based on pastoral and political factors, including the international situation, conflicts, humanitarian crises, the state of the local church and the history of previous trips.
Route preparations
According to an AFP source at the Vatican, the choice of destinations also reflects the geopolitical priorities of the pontificate. During his 12-year pontificate, Pope Francis gave preference to the so-called peripheries of the Catholic Church, including Iraq, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea. Leo XIV, who was born in the United States, is instead more inclined towards Europe and major international institutions, the source said.
Before every trip, a Vatican delegation known as the advance team arrives in the destination country. It coordinates programme details with local authorities. Such a delegation visited France in mid-July. An AFP source in the Vatican security service stressed that the programme may be changed at the last moment, so all elements of the visit are planned almost down to the second.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Security and flight
The Vatican does not have its own official aircraft, so the Holy See charters a commercial plane from the Italian airline ITA for the outbound flight. The return flight is usually provided by the host country. The pope takes seat 1A at the front of the cabin, with cardinals, personal secretaries and a doctor travelling alongside him.
Direct protection is provided by around 40 members of the Vatican Gendarmerie and the Swiss Guard. About 80 journalists, photographers and camera operators also travel on the plane. The medical team carries a supply of blood matching the pontiff’s blood type, while a hospital unit is kept on standby in the host country. The popemobile is delivered in advance, and a backup vehicle is prepared on site.
The cargo includes the pontiff’s personal belongings, pre-prepared speeches, security equipment, liturgical items and official gifts for heads of state and senior officials. During the return flight, the pope holds an onboard press conference for journalists.
