Pope Leo Set for Largest Event of France Tour as Paris Crowds Swell
The Vatican said 700,000 people attended the open-air service, underscoring the church’s reach in a deeply secular country.
- Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at Place de la Concorde in Paris on Saturday, drawing an estimated 700,000 people, exceeding the 600,000 who registered in advance.
- Organizers faced criticism from secularism supporters for choosing Place de la Concorde, designed in the 18th century as a French Revolution execution site, with critics arguing the Invalides would have been more appropriate.
- Adult baptisms in France have tripled since 2016 to 13,000 this year, though long-term trends show decline; entrepreneur Thierry Chen noted the event reminds people of "what is really important in life."
- During his homily, Pope Leo encouraged French Catholics to persevere in their faith "even amid the thorns" and prayed that the "living water of the Holy Spirit" may flow throughout France.
- Pope Leo will continue his four-day visit by praying at the Catholic shrine at Lourdes after Paris, following his prayer service Friday at the restored Notre Dame Cathedral, the first papal prayer there since its 2019 fire.
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Hundreds of thousands turn out for Pope Leo's popemobile parade along Champs-Elysees ahead of Mass
Pope Leo XIV conducted an outdoor Mass in Paris that drew an estimated 700,000 people to the Champs-Elysees. The event highlighted the continuing appeal of the Catholic Church in a predominantly secular France. Many attendees included people of various faiths and backgrounds seeking a message of peace and unity. Attendance has notably increased among young converts to Catholicism in recent years.
The visit of Pope Leo XIV to Paris becomes a mega-event. 700,000 people flock to Mass, including a lot of political celebrities. After cheering the people on the Champs-Élysées boulevard, he turns in his sermon to the false promise of material goods.
(Paris·Brussels=Yonhap News) Correspondents Hwang Yun-jeong and Hyun Yun-kyung = The Champs-Élysées, a symbol of Paris, France, on the afternoon of the 26th (local time).
Pope Leo XIV descended the Champs-Elysées on Saturday under the cheers of an immense crowd of faithful, before celebrating a giant mass.
Pope Leo XIV led an open-air Mass today on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, in front of about 700,000 worshipers, which is the biggest event of his four-day visit to France.
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