The Papacy in the Land of Metz
Happening now
To mark Pope Leo XIV's visit to Metz, the Municipal Archives trace the historic ties linking the city to the Holy See since the 8th century. Papal bulls, plans, maps and photographs from the archival collections, supplemented by items from the Metz Libraries and Media Centres, chart a journey through several centuries of history. Councils, conclaves, jubilees and memorable papal visits have woven this relationship: that of Leo IX in 1049, the first pontiff to officially travel to the city, and that of John Paul II in 1988. The exhibition also highlights the municipality's role in administering religious archives: recently reclassified, the P series (Religions) offers a continuous view, from the French Revolution to the Second World War, of the relationship between municipal authority and the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths. On 28 September 2026, Leo XIV's official visit takes its place in this long chronology.
Centuries of ties with the Holy See
Papal bulls, plans, maps and photographs trace a relationship between Metz and the papacy since the 8th century, marked by the visits of Leo IX (1049) and John Paul II (1988).
The P series (Religions) in focus
Recently reclassified, it sheds light on relations between the municipality and the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths, from the Revolution to the Second World War.
Infos pratiques
Adresse : Cloître des Récollets, 1 rue des Récollets, 57000 Metz
Questions fréquentes
Why this exhibition now?
It accompanies Pope Leo XIV's visit to Metz, whose official visit is set for 28 September 2026.
Where is the exhibition held?
At the Cloître des Récollets, 1 rue des Récollets in Metz, home to the Municipal Archives.
