(ANS – Paris – September 25, 2026) – Pope Leo XIV is in France—Paris, Lourdes, and then Metz—on an official visit from September 25–28, 2026. His visit is generating great enthusiasm: around 600,000 people are expected in the capital, while 200,000 are anticipated in Lourdes on Sunday. Naturally, the Salesian Family is also preparing to take part in this historic event. To mark the occasion, eight anecdotes have been compiled that best illustrate the Salesians’ joyful participation.

The Church of St. John Bosco Is Mobilizing, as Fr. Luc Herpoel Explains on RMC

The media have naturally taken an interest in the enthusiasm generated by the papal visit—and its consequences, particularly in terms of accommodations. Hotel room rates are reported to have risen and, as a result, many churches and parishes have organized themselves to welcome as many of the faithful as possible in the best possible conditions. Among them is the Parish of St. John Bosco, the Salesians’ national shrine.

In an interview with RMC on September 21, Fr. Luc Herpoel showed the facilities where more than 110 young people from the Salesian Youth Movement will be accommodated. They have come to see Pope Leo XIV and take part in the vigil at the Stade de France.

“These facilities are usually used for moments of biblical reflection. They aren’t exactly designed for this, but we’ll move the tables and chairs around,” explained Fr. Luc.

Gwenaëlle Will Sing in Lourdes in Front of 200,000 Pilgrims

The singer from Normandy, a musical talent from the Salesian Family, was in Lyon last Saturday for the start of the pastoral year at the Salesian parish. But this Sunday, September 27, she will

be performing in Lourdes. She is, in fact, one of the artists selected by the organizers of the papal visit.

“I have a 30-minute set, around 5 p.m.,” explains Gwenaëlle.

She will be accompanied, in particular, by Joaquim Lesne, another young Salesian, and by several other musicians, including Claire Bouchadeill and brothers Valentin and Eliot Jeannet, members of the group Risen.

An “International” Delegation of Salesian Sisters and Confreres at Vespers on Friday

There will be numerous highlights over the course of these four days. Before the grand vigil with young people at the Stade de France, the Pope will go to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris to recite Vespers together with the priests, religious sisters, and religious men of the capital.

The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) will be in the churchyard, representing cultural diversity well: one Colombian, two Belgians, two French, and one Vietnamese—Sister Marthe, Sister Marie, Sister Sandrine, Sister Anne-Marie, Sister Céline, and Sister Anna.

Around ten Salesian Brothers will also be present: Sébastien, Pierre V., Albert, Sirak, Pierre H., Luc, Xavier E., Xavier DV, Vincent, and Dominik. Here too, it is an international delegation, representing France, Belgium, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Poland, and Vietnam.

The 5,000 Liturgical Stoles for Priests, Woven by Don Bosco’s Friend Eric Boël

Invited three years ago to the “Don Bosco – Young People and Families” weekend in Samoëns, Eric Boël, President of Tissages de Charlieu in the Loire and former national winner of the Christian Entrepreneurs’ Trophy, had declared to the Salesian Family: “Business can and must support the fulfillment of the human person,” based on three pillars: “commitment, the ability to work together, and know-how.”

Undoubtedly, these three pillars formed the foundation of an extraordinary venture launched on June 24.

“We received a request for a quotation for 5,000 liturgical stoles—the stoles that priests will wear during the Pope’s visit.”

These ecru-colored stoles are adorned at the ends with a blue cross woven in relief. Approved on July 15, the order was due to be delivered on September 15. Challenge met!

A Historic Weekend for the SYM

Every year, the last weekend in September is dedicated to the autumn gathering of the France-Belgium Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in Lyon. But this year, to mark the Pope’s visit, the young people of the Salesian Family have changed their plans and will be in Paris.

There will be a huge turnout, and they will take part in two key events: the youth vigil at the Stade de France on Friday evening and the grand Mass in Paris the following afternoon.

All Together on the Field at the Stade de France

Two hundred top-level athletes will take part in the vigil at the Stade de France on Friday evening, alongside Holy Games, the Catholic Church’s sports collective.

They will be easily recognizable because they will all be wearing the same “Papa Leone 14 – FC Gesù” sports shirt. Among them will be footballer Wendie Renard, former captain of Les Bleues, cyclist Egan Bernal, winner of the 2019 Tour de France, former goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau, and Paralympic shooting champion Tanguy de La Forest.

Also among them will be Fr. Xavier Ernst, Superior of the France-Southern Belgium (FRB) Province. The French cycling champion from the clergy served as one of the chaplains at the Olympic Village during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Rise in Adult Baptisms: Sister Bénédicte Pitti to Attend Meeting with the Pope

Just over a year ago, faced with a sharp rise in the number of requests for baptism from teenagers and adults, the bishops of Île-de-France decided to establish an ecclesial assembly bringing together some of these young people, as well as those accompanying them.

As this sharp rise in conversions among young adults is one of the reasons for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France, a meeting has naturally been included in the program. It will take place on Saturday morning at the Catho in Paris.

Sister Bénédicte Pitti, a Salesian who is part of the group supporting catechumens at the Parish of St. John Bosco in Paris, will be present.

A Parishioner of St. John Bosco Chosen for the Offertory Procession

On Saturday in Paris, 600,000 people are expected to attend the grand afternoon Mass. It is easy to imagine, therefore, that the nine people entrusted with the offertory procession will be in the spotlight.

Among them is Marie-Anne, a parishioner of St. John Bosco, who was baptized a year and a half ago and whom many know above all for having given her testimony at Campobosco and the Don Bosco Youth and Families Weekend.

“I will carry the paten with the large host,” she emphasizes, at the end of the rehearsal that took place a few days ago.

Source: Don Bosco Aujourd’hui