Bolatito Mercy
Pope Leo XIV drew an estimated 700,000 worshippers to central Paris on Saturday as he celebrated an open-air Mass at Place de la Concorde during his four-day visit to France.
The pontiff, 71, travelled through the Champs-Élysées in the popemobile, receiving cheers from large crowds waving French and Vatican flags before arriving at the venue for the Mass.
A large white canopy was erected as a temporary altar, while giant screens were installed around the square to enable worshippers to follow the service.
Security was tightened across central Paris, with roads sealed off, helicopters monitoring the area and security personnel deployed on rooftops.
Families, young people and elderly worshippers gathered for the historic service, with some parents carrying children on their shoulders in the hope of getting a closer view of the pope.
The Mass formed the centrepiece of the second day of Leo’s visit to France, a country with a long Catholic history despite its strongly secular character.
Earlier on Saturday, the pope visited Maison Bakhita, an organisation that supports refugees and migrants. During the visit, he spoke about the possibility of people living together with dignity and peace, while highlighting the important role of women in building what he described as a “civilisation of love.”
Several prominent French politicians were also in Paris for the occasion, including far-right figures Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, as well as former president Nicolas Sarkozy. President Emmanuel Macron was represented by his wife, Brigitte Macron.
The pope’s visit has generated significant interest among French Catholics, with crowds also turning out in large numbers on Friday as he travelled through Paris and visited Notre Dame Cathedral.
During his first day in the country, Leo called for ethical safeguards in the development of artificial intelligence, warning against the creation of a future dominated by machines. He also urged France to remain committed to promoting peace as the war in Ukraine continues.
Addressing young people, the pope encouraged them to become examples of faith and service, referring to them as the “saints of France.”
Although regular Catholic worship has declined significantly in France, interest in religious life remains visible among some younger people, while baptisms among teenagers and adults have reportedly increased in recent years.
Following the Paris Mass, Pope Leo is scheduled to travel to Lourdes, a major Catholic pilgrimage centre in southwestern France associated with the reported 1858 apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
During his time in Lourdes, the pope is expected to meet seven people who were victims of clerical sexual abuse.
A 2021 investigation into abuse within the Catholic Church in France estimated that about 330,000 minors had been abused by clergy or other members of the Church over a period spanning several decades.
Leo will conclude his French visit in Metz on Monday, where he is expected to address issues surrounding peace in Europe.
