Pope Leo XIV visits France, in photos

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Pope Leo XIV visits France, in photos

2026-09-25 21:37 Last Updated At：21:51

Pope Leo XIV visits France for a four-day trip that includes stops in Paris, Lourdes and Metz.

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Pope Leo XIV, left, speaks during a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, attend a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shake hands as they leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV leaves after a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV arrives to meet French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, right, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

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Pope Leo XIV, left, speaks during a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, attend a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shake hands as they leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV leaves after a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV arrives to meet French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, right, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Russell takes Azerbaijan GP pole after F1 leader Antonelli hits the wall

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — George Russell took pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Formula 1 standings leader Kimi Antonelli hit the wall in qualifying Friday.

With his teammate Antonelli out of the running, Russell showed why Mercedes is such a big favorite at the Baku track as he went nearly a second faster than anyone else.

“When I crossed the line and I saw the gap. I was shocked. I knew the lap was was great,” Russell said.

Still, he added “you can't discount Kimi” for Saturday's race after Antonelli won from 19th on the grid at his home Italian Grand Prix this month. The 20-year-old Antonelli leads Russell by 81 points.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was .837 of a second off the pace in second and Oscar Piastri was third-fastest for McLaren, .001 further back. That was a big turnaround for Piastri after McLaren even resorted to using cable ties to hold together parts of the car's bodywork in a chaotic Friday practice.

“It’s been a little bit of a tricky one for us, but it’s not the first time this year," the Australian said. "I feel like we get to qualifying, we take all the fuel out and the car just comes alive more.”

Isack Hadjar was fourth for Red Bull on his return from injury and no one else got within a second of Russell on a disappointing day for McLaren's Lando Norris in fifth, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in sixth and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in eighth.

It's the first pole for Russell since the Austrian Grand Prix in June, which was also his last win. The long straight at Baku favors Mercedes' engine and car design.

Antonelli is set to start Saturday's race in 16th place on the grid after he clipped the wall and damaged a wheel and suspension in the first part of qualifying. He tried to get back to the pits but the team told him to stop because there was too much damage.

The Mercedes driver's previous lap time was enough to reach the second part of qualifying but he was unable to continue.

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Pope Leo XIV visits France, in photos

News

Pope Leo XIV visits France, in photos

Pope Leo XIV, left, speaks during a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, attend a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shake hands as they leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV leaves after a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV arrives to meet French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, right, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, speaks during a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, attend a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shake hands as they leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV leaves after a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV arrives to meet French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, right, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as part of his four-day pastoral visit to France, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, center right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, leave after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands after a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez, Pool)

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