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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Vatican Journey to France

Pope Leo XIV leads Vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV led Vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. This visit marks the first time a pope has entered the cathedral since it was rebuilt following the 2019 fire that destroyed its roof, nave, and spire.

During the prayer service, the pope was joined by bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and seminarians. In his homily, Leo XIV described the cathedral as a vital center of civilization where heaven and earth meet. He suggested that the reconstruction of the church should serve as a model for welcome and participation that reaches beyond church boundaries.

The pope encouraged those present to undergo a personal rebirth alongside the rebuilt cathedral. He urged the faithful to prioritize a missionary conversion, cultivate a love for the liturgy, and seek community with the successor of Peter.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

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Read it in Français · HY · Polski · English · Português · Italiano · Slovenčina · हिन्दी · Română · Deutsch · ትግርኛ · Malti

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  2. Oct 31, 11:30 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  6. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  7. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  8. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  10. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  11. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  12. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  13. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  14. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  15. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  16. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  17. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  18. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  22. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  24. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  25. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Sunday 27 September

Pope Leo XIV leads Vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral

Earlier version, Saturday 26 September

Pope Leo XIV prays at Notre-Dame Cathedral

Earlier version, Saturday 26 September

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Vespers at Notre-Dame

Earlier version, Friday 25 September

Pope Leo XIV presides over vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral

Earlier version, Friday 25 September

Pope Leo XIV to visit Notre Dame

Earlier version, Friday 25 September

Pope Leo XIV to visit Notre-Dame de Paris

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Sep 23, 9:13 AM Famille Chrétienne Français Vénération de la couronne d’épines, chapelle des chrétiens d’Orient, Salve Regina sur le parvis : le programme du pape à Notre-Dame de Paris
  2. Sep 23, 9:13 AM Famille Chrétienne Français Vénération de la couronne d’épines, chapelle des chrétiens d’Orient, Salve Regina sur le parvis : le programme du pape à Notre-Dame de Paris
  3. Sep 24, 11:44 PM Vatican News HY Նոթըր Տամ տը Փարի տաճարը եւ Արեւելքի քրիստոնեաներուն մատուռը
  4. Sep 25, 12:21 AM Vatican News Polski Katedra Notre-Dame w Paryżu, Papież i cisza „brzemienna sensem”
  5. Sep 25, 1:00 AM National Catholic Reporter As Pope Leo heads to Notre Dame, a brief history of the cathedral's cultural relevance
  6. Sep 24, 9:30 AM Aleteia Français Vêpres à Notre-Dame : qu’est-ce que le lucernaire ?
  7. Sep 25, 9:00 AM Agência Ecclesia Português França: Leão XIV elogia reconstrução da Catedral de Notre-Dame, «centro vital de uma civilização»
  8. Sep 25, 9:00 AM Vatican News Italiano Leone XIV: la ricostruzione di Notre-Dame sia modello di accoglienza e partecipazione
  9. Sep 25, 8:59 AM Vatican News Slovenčina Homília Leva XIV.: Táto katedrála sa znovuzrodila, aby ste sa spolu s ňou mohli znovuzrodiť
  10. Sep 25, 9:45 AM Catholic News Agency Pope Leo prays at Notre-Dame Cathedral: ‘Where heaven and earth meet’
  11. Sep 25, 9:45 AM Catholic World Report Pope Leo prays at Notre-Dame Cathedral: ‘where heaven and earth meet’
  12. Sep 25, 9:58 AM Vatican News Where light meets heaven: Pope Leo XIV at Notre-Dame
  13. Sep 25, 10:57 PM CBCP News Pope Leo prays at Notre-Dame Cathedral: ‘Where heaven and earth meet’
  14. Sep 26, 1:02 AM Vatican News हिन्दी जहां प्रकाश स्वर्ग से मिलता है: नोट्रे-डेम में पोप लियो 14वें
  15. Sep 26, 12:53 AM Vatican News Română Leon XIV în Franța: Notre-Dame din Paris, inima unei civilizații și model de primire
  16. Sep 25, 11:31 PM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch Leo XIV. im "Herz eines Volkes" / Leo XIV. besucht als erster Papst Notre-Dame nach dem Brand
  17. Sep 26, 7:50 AM Vatican News ትግርኛ ብርሃን ምስ ሰማይ ዝራኸበሉ: ር.ሊ.ጳ. ልዮን መበል 14 ኣብ ኖትረ-ዳም
  18. Sep 26, 7:46 AM Knisja Maltija Malti The Pope: Where light meets heaven
  19. Sep 25, 9:11 AM Rome Reports Leo XIV kisses the Relic of the Crown of Thorns to the Sound of the Notre Dame Choir – VIDEO
  20. Sep 26, 12:22 AM The Monitor Pope Leo prays in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris 7 years after devastating fire

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  2. Oct 31, 11:30 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  6. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  7. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  8. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  10. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  11. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  12. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  13. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  14. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  15. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  16. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  17. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  18. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  22. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  24. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  25. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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