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(https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/africa) Africa  (https://www.theguardian.com/inequality) Inequality  (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development) Global development              (https://www.theguardian.com/world/series/europe-live-with-jakub-krupa) Europe live with Jakub Krupa  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/world) World news       Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live       The pope will deliver a landmark speech on AI development and discuss Europe’s future     LIVE Updated now            (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jakub-krupa) Jakub Krupa (now) and  (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/tom-ambrose) Tom Ambrose (earlier)   Fri 25 Sep 2026 06.14 EDT  First published on Fri 25 Sep 2026 03.45 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url) Share                   Key events  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7#block-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1h ago  Trump made final decision to give Ukraine licences to produce Patriot missiles, Zelenskyy claims   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583#block-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Pope Leo's plans in France today and over the weekend   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68#block-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Pope Leo arrives in France, welcomed by president Macron   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565#block-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Church bells across France ring to mark Pope Leo's visit   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8#block-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Pope Leo lands in Paris   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c#block-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 03:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Morning opening: Pope Leo visits France to meet Catholics, talk AI, united Europe                          (Pope Leo boarding a plane from Fiumicino Airport, Rome)          Pope Leo boarding a plane from Fiumicino Airport, Rome Photograph: Vatican Media Handout/EPA     (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       Pope Leo boarding a plane from Fiumicino Airport, Rome Photograph: Vatican Media Handout/EPA             (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jakub-krupa) Jakub Krupa (now) and  (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/tom-ambrose) Tom Ambrose (earlier)   Fri 25 Sep 2026 06.14 EDT  First published on Fri 25 Sep 2026 03.45 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url) Share                     From(Friday, September 25, 2026 at 03:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago    (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c#block-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c) 03.45 EDT   Morning opening: Pope Leo visits France to meet Catholics, talk AI, united Europe (Jakub Krupa)   Jakub Krupa   Pope Leo will visit (https://www.theguardian.com/world/france) France this weekend, the first papal state visit to the country in 18 years, beginning with Paris today.      (Pope Leo XIV boarding a plane from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy.)       Pope Leo XIV boarding a plane from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy. Photograph: Vatican Media Handout/EPA  During the visit, Leo is expected to seek to repair the Catholic Church’s standing after abuse scandals in the country , as well as deliver a landmark speech on AI development at Unesco and talk about Europe’s future  in Metz, with some other European leaders expected to attend. He will visit the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris , as well as the famed Catholic shrine in Lourdes , among other places. The Pope’s plane is (https://www.flightradar24.com/ITY4000/41d310d2) now in French airspace and expected to land at Paris Orly airport in the next half hour. I will keep an eye on his trip and keep you up to date. Elsewhere, I will bring you all the updates from Ukraine and across the continent.  It’s Friday, 25 September 2026 , it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live . Good morning.  (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c#block-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c) Share     Updated at (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 04.31 EDT               Key events  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7#block-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1h ago  Trump made final decision to give Ukraine licences to produce Patriot missiles, Zelenskyy claims   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583#block-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Pope Leo's plans in France today and over the weekend   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68#block-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Pope Leo arrives in France, welcomed by president Macron   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565#block-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Church bells across France ring to mark Pope Leo's visit   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8#block-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Pope Leo lands in Paris   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c#block-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 03:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago  Morning opening: Pope Leo visits France to meet Catholics, talk AI, united Europe         (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab648788f0862b4af087d9b#block-6ab648788f0862b4af087d9b) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 06:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time) now   06.14 EDT    Meanwhile, Russian authorities released the full results from the country’s parliamentary election, and,  would you believe it!?  , the main Kremlin party, United Russia, won it big time.  Totally  unexpected.  The party will get more than three-fourths of the seats in the lower house, the State Duma, a record high, AP noted. The tightly orchestrated vote excluded virtually any genuine opposition, it added.     (Members of a local electoral commission empty a ballot box to count votes in Russia's parliamentary election in Donetsk, Russian-occupied Ukraine.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-2)   View image in fullscreen       Members of a local electoral commission empty a ballot box to count votes in Russia's parliamentary election in Donetsk, Russian-occupied Ukraine. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images  As Luke Harding reported last week, “Western governments denounced the polls held in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine as a “sham”.   Russia’s supreme court last month banned the only party that opposes the war, Yabloko, from participating, leaving liberal voters with no option to express discontent.”   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/21/putin-consolidates-grip-russia-ukraine-war-veterans-elected-duma)  Putin consolidates grip on Russia as 49 Ukraine war veterans elected to parliament     Read more        (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab648788f0862b4af087d9b#block-6ab648788f0862b4af087d9b) Share           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab6408b8f086b315496015f#block-6ab6408b8f086b315496015f) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 05:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 31m ago   05.43 EDT    And here are some photos from the palace …     (Pope Leo XIV walks on a red carpet toward France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron ahead of a meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris on September 25, 2026 at the start of his four days visit to France.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-3)   View image in fullscreen       Pope Leo XIV walks on a red carpet toward France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron ahead of a meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris on September 25, 2026 at the start of his four days visit to France.  Photograph: Remo Casilli/AFP/Getty Images      (Emmanuel Macron welcomes Pope Leon XIV at the Elysee in Paris.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-4)   View image in fullscreen       Emmanuel Macron welcomes Pope Leon XIV at the Elysee in Paris. Photograph: Abdullah Firas/ABACA/Shutterstock      (France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) walks with Pope Leo XIV (L) before their meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris on September 25, 2026 at the start of his four days visit to France.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-5)   View image in fullscreen       France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) walks with Pope Leo XIV (L) before their meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris on September 25, 2026 at the start of his four days visit to France.  Photograph: Benoît Tessier/AFP/Getty Images  (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab6408b8f086b315496015f#block-6ab6408b8f086b315496015f) Share       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab63cbf8f08df557ca2f5fb#block-6ab63cbf8f08df557ca2f5fb) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 05:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 48m ago   05.25 EDT    Back in Paris, Pope Leo has arrived at the Élysée Palace, where he was greeted by the French president (https://www.theguardian.com/world/emmanuel-macron) Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.  Crowds lined the streets of the capital to greet the pope, before his car arrived at the official residency of French president. A particularly long red carpet was rolled out as the Macrons appeared to warmly welcome Leo to the palace. Television footage showed the pope and the president talking to one another as they made their way through the grand building. (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab63cbf8f08df557ca2f5fb#block-6ab63cbf8f08df557ca2f5fb) Share           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab63c8f8f086b315496012d#block-6ab63c8f8f086b315496012d) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 05:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 54m ago   05.19 EDT    Ukraine ⁠hit two ⁠Russian ⁠oil refineries in ​the past ⁠day , president Volodymyr ⁠Zelenskyy ​said. Zelenskyy ‌said facilities ‌has been struck in Bashkortostan and the ‌Samara region, and ​that there had ⁠also been ​unspecified strikes in ​the ​Black ​Sea. (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab63c8f8f086b315496012d#block-6ab63c8f8f086b315496012d) Share       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7#block-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1h ago   04.49 EDT   Trump made final decision to give Ukraine licences to produce Patriot missiles, Zelenskyy claims  Meanwhile, we are getting a strong news line from Ukraine, with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy telling reporters that US president Donald Trump told him during their recent meeting that Ukraine would receive licenses for the production of Patriot missiles.  In a voice note to journalists, Zelenskyy said: “At our last meeting, President Trump emphasised to me that yes, I have made a final decision. Ukraine will receive licences for the production of Patriot missiles.”   Trump first (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/08/trump-zelenskyy-vague-promise-licence-manufacture-patriot-missiles) suggested the move in July , though he later (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/31/trump-cabinet-camp-david-ukraine) appeared to backtrack on the promise.  As Peter Beaumont  explained at the time, it would mark a significant shift for Ukraine – if actually delivered on: “It would be a diplomatic coup for Kyiv, which has been struggling to counter Moscow’s increasing missile threat.   Zelenskyy has for years been asking for more of [the missiles], and more recently for a license so that Ukraine can manufacture its own. Even at the current increased rate of production it is estimated that the US would not manage to (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/europe-faces-up-to-prospect-us-may-be-unable-to-arm-nato-allies) replenish its stockpile for its own use until 2028. ”   (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7#block-6ab634a38f08df557ca2f5c7) Share       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab631b98f0862b4af087c8b#block-6ab631b98f0862b4af087c8b) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.42 EDT    Leo’s visit in generally secular (https://www.theguardian.com/world/france) France attracted a fairly unexpected level of public interest, with over a million people expected to turn out to see him during the four-day trip.     (Pope Leo XIV welcomed as he arrives at Orly Airport near Paris, France.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-6)   View image in fullscreen       Pope Leo XIV welcomed as he arrives at Orly Airport near Paris, France. Photograph: Abd Rabbo Ammar/ABACA/Shutterstock  There are a few sticking points between France’s secular public policy and the Catholic church’s teachings, including on abortion ((https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/04/france-to-hold-final-vote-on-enshrining-abortion-as-a-constitutional-right) the right was enshrined in the constitution in 2024 ) and (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/19/france-assisted-dying-law-comes-into-effect) assisted dying. The French Catholic hierarchy opposed both measures, but Leo is seen as unlikely to wade into these issues. In political terms, the pope’s visit is seen as a big win for Macron in his final months in the office: his predecessor, Pope Francis , visited France three times, but never on an official state visit. Only around 5% of France’s 69 million residents regularly attend Catholic church, AFP noted, but some 40% see themselves as Catholic. Interestingly, Leo’s paternal ancestors were French , so there’s also that. (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab631b98f0862b4af087c8b#block-6ab631b98f0862b4af087c8b) Share           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583#block-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.28 EDT   Pope Leo's plans in France today and over the weekend  Later today, Pope Leo will go to the Élysée Palace for (another) formal welcome and a meeting with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, before visiting Unesco and delivering a speech on AI in mid-afternoon.     (Children with flags and a banner gather to welcome Pope Leo upon his arrival at Paris-Orly Airport in Orly, near Paris.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-7)   View image in fullscreen       Children with flags and a banner gather to welcome Pope Leo upon his arrival at Paris-Orly Airport in Orly, near Paris. Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters  He is then expected to go on a stroll through the streets of Paris, before going to the restored Notre Dame Cathedral.  In the evening, he is due to meet with some 80,000 young people for a prayer vigil with young people at Stade de France (I decline to say what they consider as ‘young’, because I’m not happy their brackets.) Tomorrow, he will visit Maison Bakhita social support and integration centre and hold a meeting at the Catholic Institute of Paris before hosting an open-air mass at Place de la Concorde and Avenue des Champs-Elysees and moving onwards to Lourdes.  He will spend all Sunday there, with a Sunday Mass in the Sanctuary of Lourdes, and a private meeting with victims of sexual abuse within the Church later that day. He will then be in Metz on Monday, with a speech on the roots of united (https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news) Europe , another stroll through the streets of the city, and a mass at Metz Cathedral, before flying back to Rome. (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583#block-6ab62f288f08df557ca2f583) Share     Updated at (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 04.30 EDT      (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68#block-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.21 EDT   Pope Leo arrives in France, welcomed by president Macron  Pope Leo gets off the plane , gets into a chat with Macron, and so the official welcome ceremony begins.     (Pope Leo XIV disembarks from the plane upon his arrival at the Orly airport, in the outskirts of Paris.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-8)   View image in fullscreen       Pope Leo XIV disembarks from the plane upon his arrival at the Orly airport, in the outskirts of Paris. Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images      (French president Emmanuel Macron welcomes Pope Leo upon his arrival at Paris-Orly Airport in Orly, near Paris.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-9)   View image in fullscreen       French president Emmanuel Macron welcomes Pope Leo upon his arrival at Paris-Orly Airport in Orly, near Paris. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters  (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68#block-6ab62e8a8f0862b4af087c68) Share     Updated at (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 04.28 EDT      (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62dec8f0862b4af087c64#block-6ab62dec8f0862b4af087c64) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.18 EDT    The plane is now in sight, and president Macron in position to welcome the pope to (https://www.theguardian.com/world/france) France . Any moment now.     (Pope Leo's plane lands as he arrives at Paris-Orly Airport in Orly, near Paris.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-10)   View image in fullscreen       Pope Leo's plane lands as he arrives at Paris-Orly Airport in Orly, near Paris. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters  (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab62dec8f0862b4af087c64#block-6ab62dec8f0862b4af087c64) Share         (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62c578f0862b4af087c5d#block-6ab62c578f0862b4af087c5d) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.11 EDT    Meanwhile, frantic preparations are under way at the Élysée Palace, where the pope is expected later this morning…      (A red carpet is installed in the courtyard of the Élysée Palace ahead of the pope arrival for a meeting with French President.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-11)   View image in fullscreen       A red carpet is installed in the courtyard of the Élysée Palace ahead of the pope arrival for a meeting with French President. Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images      (Workers set up a red carpet at the Élysée Palace to welcome Pope Leo XIV.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-12)   View image in fullscreen       Workers set up a red carpet at the Élysée Palace to welcome Pope Leo XIV. Photograph: Teresa Suárez/AP  But first, back to Orly airport in Paris.  (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab62c578f0862b4af087c5d#block-6ab62c578f0862b4af087c5d) Share         (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565#block-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.07 EDT   Church bells across France ring to mark Pope Leo's visit  To welcome Pope Leo to (https://www.theguardian.com/world/france) France , the bells of churches across France started ringing at 10am, just as his plane touched down at Paris Orly. In fact, they are  still  ringing: it was agreed they would ring for seven minutes, which the Conference of Bishops of France said would be just right to “mark the solemnity of the event without disrupting civil life.” It’s (https://www.pape-france.fr/actualites/cloches-arrivee-pape/) seen as “a symbolic gesture to mark the beginning of this apostolic journey and allow everyone to join in, wherever they are.” (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565#block-6ab62adf8f08df557ca2f565) Share         (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab62a658f086b31549600ab#block-6ab62a658f086b31549600ab) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.02 EDT    Meanwhile, AP is reporting that in what will surely be seen as a swipe at Donald Trump, Pope Leo told reporters on board of his plane that they are always welcome to cover him, and affirmed the need for media scrutiny.  These comments came in response to a question about Trump ban at the White House, AP is reporting. (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab62a658f086b31549600ab#block-6ab62a658f086b31549600ab) Share       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8#block-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   04.00 EDT   Pope Leo lands in Paris  As I was chatting about politics, Pope Leo’s plane has just landed in Paris.  We should see him shortly.     (People stand behind a banner reading in French "welcome in France" as they wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV outside Orly airport, in the outskirts of Paris.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-13)   View image in fullscreen       People stand behind a banner reading in French "welcome in France" as they wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV outside Orly airport, in the outskirts of Paris. Photograph: Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images  (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8#block-6ab629ec8f086b31549600a8) Share       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab629108f0862b4af087c4a#block-6ab629108f0862b4af087c4a) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 03:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   03.59 EDT    Last night Macron gave a rare prime time TV interview, answering questions about all sorts of current issues.     (President Emmanuel Macron speaks during an interview with France 2 and TF1 at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-14)   View image in fullscreen       President Emmanuel Macron speaks during an interview with France 2 and TF1 at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images  Talking to TF1 and France2, he denied media reports from Spain that the US Central Intelligence Agency warned Paris of a potential Russian strike across southern Europe, from the Mediterranean ((https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/24/russia-ukraine-un-zelenskyy-putin-kharkiv-macron-eu-competitiveness-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab50c038f08cf2106b803a0#block-6ab50c038f08cf2106b803a0) Europe Live, Thursday ). “I can deny ‌it. The CIA did not inform French services,” he said. But he still repeated his warning about Russia’s “growing” hostile activities in Europe, saying all sensitive sites in (https://www.theguardian.com/world/france) France are subject to additional protection. The French president also said that said any ban on US diesel exports backed by president Donald Trump would be a “bad” decision, including for the US economy. (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab629108f0862b4af087c4a#block-6ab629108f0862b4af087c4a) Share           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab628cc8f086b315496009c#block-6ab628cc8f086b315496009c) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 03:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   03.55 EDT    Interestingly, French president (https://www.theguardian.com/world/emmanuel-macron) Emmanuel Macron will meet with Pope Leo this morning and host him at the Élysée Palace, but will not attend tomorrow’s mass at Place de la Concorde in Paris.  Former president Nicolas Sarkozy said the decision was Macron’s personal choice, adding that he would have attended if he were still in office. “Some say that in the name of secularism, he shouldn’t go. That doesn’t make sense: secularism is a right, a right to believe or not to believe,” he said, (https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/presidentielle/direct-budget-emmanuel-macron-ecarte-l-hypothese-d-une-nouvelle-dissolution-et-appelle-les-oppositions-a-l-esprit-de-responsabilite_LN-202609250175.html?at_brand=BFMTV&at_compte=BFMTV&at_plateforme=twitter&at_campaign=Fan_pages&at_medium=Community_Management#article_551324) quoted by BFM TV.  French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu  will represent the state on Saturday instead. (mailto:?subject=Pope Leo visits France for first papal visit in 18 years – Europe live&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6ab628cc8f086b315496009c#block-6ab628cc8f086b315496009c) Share     Updated at (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 04:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 04.42 EDT    (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/25/pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c#block-6ab621688f0862b4af087c1c) (Friday, September 25, 2026 at 03:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago   03.45 EDT  (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#pinned-post)      Morning opening: Pope Leo visits France to meet Catholics, talk AI, united Europe (Jakub Krupa)   Jakub Krupa   Pope Leo will visit (https://www.theguardian.com/world/france) France this weekend, the first papal state visit to the country in 18 years, beginning with Paris today.      (Pope Leo XIV boarding a plane from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy.)   (pope-leo-france-paris-notre-dame-metz-ai-europe-latest-news-updates.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       Pope Leo XIV boarding a plane from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy. Photograph: Vatican Media Handout/EPA  During the visit, Leo is expected to seek to repair the Catholic Church’s standing after abuse scandals in the country , as well as deliver a landmark speech on AI development at Unesco and talk about Europe’s future  in Metz, with some other European leaders expected to attend. He will visit the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris , as well as the famed Catholic shrine in Lourdes , among other places. The Pope’s plane is (https://www.flightradar24.com/ITY4000/41d310d2) now in French airspace and expected to land at Paris Orly airport in the next half hour. I will keep an eye on his trip and keep you up to date. Elsewhere, I will bring you all the updates from Ukraine and across the continent.  It’s Friday, 25 September 2026 , it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live . Good morning.  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