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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TVA Nouvelles
Le Journal de MontrealPope Leo XIV descended the Champs-Elysées on Saturday under the cheers of an immense crowd of faithful, before celebrating a giant mass.
Algemeen Dagblad
destentor.nlPope Leo XIV held a massive open-air mass on Saturday at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. According to the Vatican, some 700,000 people attended the service.
An oceanic crowd welcomed the Pope in Place de la Concorde, in Paris, where the Pontiff celebrated Mass on his second and last day of visit to the French capital. The Pope in Papamobile slowly reached the meeting point with the faithful passing through the Arc de Triomphe and walking through all the Champs-Elysees. [...] L'articolo Leo XIV conquers Paris laica: 800 thousand people at the Mass in Place de la Concorde. Present also Brigitte Macron…
Pope Leo XIV toured on Saturday the Champs Elysées in popemobile before a crowd of faithful, before going to the Place de la Concorde to celebrate an open-air mass with the planned presence of some 600,000 people.
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.
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