Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to Paris Draws Over 800,000

Pope Leo XIV attracted approximately 800,000 individuals to Paris on Saturday for an extensive open-air Mass. The event took place in a prominent public square, where he encouraged Catholics to express their faith in a society that is becoming more secular.

Crowds filled the Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde as the Pope traveled 1.2 miles through central Paris via the popemobile. The Vatican reported 800,000 attendees, exceeding pre-registered numbers by 200,000. Many families raised children toward the vehicle as Leo journeyed through the city.

Seeing you gathered here, said Leo to worshippers, describing them as heirs of France’s long and beautiful history of faith. He urged them to share this inheritance widely.

The Mass location, Place de la Concorde, was historically notable as the site where King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were executed, making it symbolic in a nation with a strong secular tradition. The decision to hold Mass there attracted criticism from advocates of church-state separation.

In contrast, two years prior, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, which included drag performers, had faced criticism for perceived mockery of Christianity. French Christians felt mocked by what many saw as a parody of da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” though organizers denied such claims.

During his visit, Leo noted a rise in adult conversions in France, with baptisms increasing to 13,000 annually. However, overall baptisms have decreased significantly since 1980. He expressed gratitude to the faithful for upholding their beliefs in a secular world.

On Friday, about 80,000 young people gathered in France’s national stadium for a vigil with fireworks and a recount of the country’s Catholic history. Thank you for your courage! Thank you for your presence, Leo expressed, referring to them as the saints of France!

Throughout the Mass, he mentioned French Catholic saints, praised efforts towards “life, the family, truth, peace, fraternity, and justice,” and used the biblical metaphor of “living water” to convey spiritual fulfillment.

The event rivaled major public celebrations on the Champs-Élysées, reminiscent of France’s World Cup victories in past years. Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France from September 25-28 marked his first official visit, with engagements including a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and a prayer service at Notre-Dame Cathedral. This visit is the first papal visit to France since 2008.