Pope Leo Set for Largest Event of France Tour as Paris Crowds Swell
- 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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184 Articles
(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.
The Pope's Lion XIV Mass in Paris Square gathered 700,000 people on Saturday, according to the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV has finished his stay in Paris with a great mass. The relationship between France and the Vatican is not free of tensions - yet the Pope was celebrated by a huge crowd.
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