Pope Leo XIV to venerate Holy Tunic of Argenteuil

Pope Leo XIV will venerate the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil during his visit to France from Sept. 25 to 28. The relic, believed to be the seamless robe worn by Christ during his Passion, will be brought from its basilica in Argenteuil to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis for a prayer vigil on the evening of Sept. 25.

The Pope will participate in the vigil alongside 80,000 young people between the ages of 17 and 35. This event follows his scheduled visit to Notre Dame Cathedral, where he will pray before the crown of thorns. Local authorities described the movement of the tunic as an unprecedented and historic measure, noting that the relic has not been officially taken out of the basilica in modern times.

The tunic has been venerated in France for more than 1,200 years. Historical records indicate that Emperor Charlemagne received the relic from Empress Irene of Constantinople around the year 800 and gave it to his daughter, Theodrada, the abbess of the Abbey of Argenteuil. The village later became a major pilgrimage site for royalty, including St. Louis in the 13th century.