The City of Paris and the Préfecture de Police have released the final mobility plan for Pope Léon XIV’s motorcade through the capital on Friday 25 September. A ‘protection SILT’ perimeter will encircle parts of the 5th, 6th and central arrondissements from 06:00-20:00, blocking all car traffic and river navigation while the papamobile travels between Notre-Dame-des-Champs and Place Saint-Michel at 16:00. Six metro stations along the Champs-Élysées-Concorde axis—including Charles-de-Gaulle–Étoile and Concorde—will close from 22:00 on 25 September until 20:00 on 26 September, disrupting RATP interchanges used heavily by commuters and business travellers. Dozens of side streets see blanket parking bans from 11:00 on 24 September; violators face towing and €135 fines. River traffic on the Seine stops between the Pont des Arts and Pont Marie for six hours on Friday afternoon, affecting tourist boats and freight barges. Access rules differentiate between time windows: from 10:00-12:00 only residents and accredited workers may enter with proof of address; from noon the faithful may approach screening points. Commercial deliveries are prohibited inside the perimeter after 09:00, prompting retailers and hotels to reschedule supply runs. The police have published a 24-page FAQ advising attendees to use park-and-ride facilities outside the périphérique and prepare for airport-style security checks. International companies with offices near the Concorde and Latin Quarter should instruct staff to work remotely or allow extra transfer time via Line 14 or RER C, which remain open. Travellers connecting at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle are advised to avoid tight layovers if onward ground travel relies on affected metro lines. While the restrictions last only one day, they represent the largest urban mobility shutdown in Paris since the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony. Authorities argue the measures strike a balance between security and city life, but the business community warns that last-minute delivery blackouts could cost retailers an estimated €8 million in lost sales.
Source: Ville de Paris
