Pope Leo XIV is set to conclude his four-day trip to France with a visit to Metz on Monday, 28 September 2026. This will mark the first papal visit to the Moselle region since John Paul II stopped there in 1988.
The event is expected to draw tens of thousands of pilgrims and visitors, leading to exceptional security arrangements that will restrict access and movement throughout much of the city.
Except for registered pilgrimage groups, all individual registrations for the so-called “papal zones” around the Robert Schuman Conference Centre and Metz Cathedral have now closed.
Without an official invitation, these areas will be inaccessible. However, the rest of Metz will remain open to the public.
Police will conduct identity checks and searches at various points around the city, and temporary barriers will be set up to secure the approximately two-kilometre papal motorcade route planned for mid-afternoon.
A full schedule for the Pope’s visit can be found in the article below.
Due to the extensive security perimeter around the city centre and the cathedral, driving into central Metz will not be possible on Monday, 28 September. All underground car parks except Paixhans will be closed for security reasons.
Mayor François Grosdidier warns to not attempt to enter Metz by car that day.
The most reliable option is to park outside the city at one of the park-and-ride sites such as Metz-Expo, Rochambeau, Woippy, and others, and take the bus from there.
Shuttle buses will be free of charge and will drop visitors near the city centre. However, motorised traffic and on-street parking will be completely prohibited in central Metz, so some walking will be necessary to reach main event locations.
Rail services on the Lorraine corridor will be reinforced on Monday, 28 September. Travelling by train from Luxembourg to Metz-Ville is the simplest way to avoid the many road restrictions that will be in place.
Be sure to purchase a valid train ticket for the full journey: travel is free only as far as Bettembourg, but a ticket is required for the French portion of the route.
Train timetables can be found on the TER Grand Est website. Depending on whether you take an express or "omnibus" service, the trip takes between 50 minutes and an hour.
At Metz railway station, access on the Pompidou Centre side will be closed for security reasons. A "papal zone" will be established on the Parvis des Droits de l’Homme, directly in front of the museum.
The Pope is expected at the convention centre, and the only way out of the station will be via the city centre side, through Place du Général de Gaulle.
Without one of the official invitations already distributed, it will not be possible to access the areas immediately surrounding the cathedral and the Robert Schuman Convention Centre.
However, the public can gather along the papamobile route, which is marked in orange on event maps. The Pope’s morning address and the Mass will be broadcast on giant screens at various locations in the city, with Place de la République open to all.
The Parvis des Droits de l’Homme will also be accessible after the Pope’s departure in the morning, for anyone without an official invitation. Catering and food stalls will be available, and comprehensive security checks will be in place throughout.
Authorities recommend arriving in Metz early to secure a good viewing spot for the papal visit.
Access around the convention centre will be blocked upon the Pope’s arrival, and only those with official invitations will be allowed through the final security barriers near the cathedral.
Once inside, attendees are advised to plan ahead to avoid being stuck in less desirable locations.
Economic and school activities in Metz will continue as usual throughout the day. The prefect emphasised that shops will remain open, and visitors will be able to buy food or use public facilities, although some queues are to be expected.
Finally, authorities strongly advise travelling light, as identity checks and bag searches will be carried out across Metz, even in public areas open to all.
