Leo XIV in France (September 25, 2026)

The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, a religion with more than a billion followers worldwide.

He lives in the Vatican, the smallest country in the world, in the heart of Rome.

Since May 2025, this role has been occupied by Leo XIV, born in Chicago, United States.

But the pope does not always stay at home: he often travels to meet believers, talk with leaders and convey messages of peace.

The activity has three steps:

STEP 1 c On the Champs-Élysées. You’ll see that Leo XIV’s arrival in Paris drew a huge crowd!

STEP 2 — A Stop in Lourdes. You’ll discover why the Pope visited this small town in southern France.

STEP 3 — A Flying Pope! You’ll follow Leo XIV’s route through France and do some calculations along the way.

Here is what the final result of your activity will look like. →

Imagine a huge, tree-lined avenue, nearly two kilometers long, connecting the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

This is the Champs-Élysées, often nicknamed "the most beautiful avenue in the world."

Its name comes from Greek mythology: the Elysian Fields were the paradise of heroes.

Every July 14th, soldiers march there for the national holiday.

But in September 2026, pilgrims from all over completely filled the avenue—all to come and see Leo XIV!

◄ Watch this short Euronews report about Pope Leo XIV's visit to Paris, then answer the questions below! ▼

Leo XIV left Paris for Lourdes, a small town nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees in southwestern France.

He wanted to pray there, but above all, to offer encouragement to the sick and those who are suffering.

These people hold a special place in the town, as it is said that one can be healed in Lourdes.

This was not Leo XIV’s first visit to Lourdes; he had already been there twice when he was young!

For centuries, Lourdes remained a quiet town of about 4,000 inhabitants. But in 1858, everything changed. A poor 14-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubirous, claimed to have seen a "lady" in a small cave called Massabielle, on the banks of the Gave de Pau—the river that flows through the town. She said she saw her eighteen times in just a few months. The news spread rapidly.

Soon, visitors began arriving from everywhere: pilgrims. A pilgrimage is a journey to a place considered sacred, undertaken to pray, reflect, or give thanks. Pilgrimages exist in several religions: Muslims travel to Mecca, and many Christians walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Before long, a railway line connected Lourdes to the rest of the country, and the town was completely transformed: churches, shops, and—above all—hotels were built.

Today, the town has just under 14,000 inhabitants, yet it welcomes around 3 million visitors every year! Among them are around 60,000 sick people who have come seeking comfort. With nearly 10,000 hotel rooms, Lourdes is actually the second-largest hotel city in France, right after Paris. Not bad for a small mountain town!

The Pope doesn't have his own private plane! He uses commercial airliners for his travels.

In France, Air France reserved an Airbus A321 for him, renamed "Vatican City."

Before departure, technicians applied the Pope's coat of arms to the aircraft (pictured ►).

For this final step, you will calculate the distance Pope Leo XIV traveled by plane!

Let's take off! 🛫

 ◄ Go to Google Earth and use the RULER tool to find the distance of each leg of Pope Leo's journey through France.