World Church · October 30, 2026
Pope's France visit budget still short by 9 million euros
The French bishops' conference confirmed on October 27 that nine million euros remain to be collected to complete the budget for Pope Leo XIV's recent visit to France. The total cost for the four-day trip, which took place from September 25 to 28, reached 27 million euros. The Pope traveled to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz for his first apostolic journey in the country, engaging in numerous meetings with the faithful. The event required significant logistical and human resources to accommodate the large crowds that gathered to see him.
Eighteen million euros have already been raised, primarily through donations from the faithful and corporate sponsorship. The remaining nine million euros are split between Paris, which needs seven million, and Lourdes, which needs two million. The bishops' conference thanked the faithful for their generosity, noting that two-thirds of the required funds have been secured. Some participants were unable to make donations on site because telephone networks became saturated. The Paris diocese and the Lourdes sanctuary will continue their fundraising efforts until the end of the year. The bishops' conference also invited those who wish to contribute to use the dedicated online platform.
The 27 million euro budget was maintained as planned before the Pope's arrival. Paris accounted for the largest share of the expenses, with approximately 20 million euros spent on various events in the capital. Lourdes represented 3.7 million euros, while Metz cost less than one million. The high costs in Paris were driven by the large attendance at major gatherings. A youth vigil at the Stade de France drew about 80,000 people, and a mass at Place de la Concorde attracted around 800,000 faithful. These two events alone gathered twice the number of participants expected, which mechanically increased certain expenses.
Variable costs, such as sanitation facilities and screens, rose in proportion to the number of attendees. Giant screens, sound, and lighting systems cost five million euros. Sanitation facilities, which were required by regulations, and waste management cost two million. Another five million euros went to infrastructure and various arrangements needed for the events. Networks and telecommunications cost an additional two million, while signage and security cost two million. Sylvie Bretones, the general delegate of the Notre Dame Foundation, which collects donations for the Paris diocese, stated that the cost remains proportionate to the number of people who came to see the Pope. About one million people visited the Pope in Paris for one or more events, bringing the cost to 20 euros per person, which the foundation considers reasonable.