France Mobilizes 850 Police and Elite Units for Pope Leo XIV’s Visit
Around 850 additional police officers are expected to be deployed just for the Lourdes and Metz portions of the trip.
France’s elite RAID tactical unit, explosives-detection dogs, and plainclothes officers will also be involved.
Authorities plan extensive drone surveillance and anti-drone measures. Preparations in Lourdes have already included authorization for police drones over the city and sanctuary.
TribuneChretienne.com points out that Islamic elements ("Islamism") remain France’s principal terrorist threat. French counterterrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen said that jihadist cases accounted for 94% of new counterterrorism investigations opened by April 1, 2026.
On September 25, Leo XIV is due to visit the Élysée Palace, UNESCO and Notre-Dame, followed by a youth gathering in Saint-Denis. A major Paris celebration the following day could draw hundreds of thousands of people.
About 150,000 people are expected in Lourdes on September 27, with the visit concluding in Metz the following day.
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