French classical singer Monroe Vata Rigby will perform for Pope Leo XIV during a youth vigil at the Stade de France on September 25. The appearance coincides with the opening day of the pontiff's official visit to France.
The 17-year-old artist will sing before an audience of young people aged 17 to 35 at the national stadium in Saint-Denis, located just north of Paris. Her producer David Hardit announced the event on Instagram, describing it as an exceptional occasion where she will perform in front of spectators gathered from across France.
The stadium performance is already sold out. The Diocese of Paris stated on social media that a waiting list remains open, adding that tickets could become available following cancellations or the removal of duplicate orders, with priority given to registered applicants.
A few days before the papal vigil, Monroe will begin a major nationwide tour focused on sacred music. The concert series will take place in historic monuments and religious sites across France, including Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral, the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, and the Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Marseille.
Monroe was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to a French mother and an American father. She won the classical music TV talent show Prodiges on France 2 in 2024. After releasing her debut album last year, she represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna in May. Long considered among the competition favorites, she ultimately finished in sixteenth place with the song Regarde !.
Papal Itinerary Across France
The performance forms part of a four-day visit by Pope Leo XIV running from September 25 to September 28, 2026. The Pope will begin his tour on September 25 with a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by a speech at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Following his UNESCO address, the pontiff will celebrate vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in the presence of bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and seminarians. He will then join the evening youth vigil in Saint-Denis alongside Monroe.
On September 26, the Pope will celebrate mass on Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysees, where organizers expect around 500,000 people. He will travel to the southwestern pilgrimage town of Lourdes on Sunday, September 27, to celebrate another open-air mass.
The papal visit will end on Monday, September 28, in the Moselle department of northeastern France. Pope Leo XIV will visit the burial site of former French prime minister Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of European integration, whose beatification process has been initiated by the Catholic Church.
