The Pope Leo XIV arrived in France for a four-day apostolic journey that quickly turned into a historic spectacle. On the second day of the visit, an estimated hundreds of thousands of people lined the Champs-Élysées and gathered on the Place de la Concorde to witness an open-air Mass. The massive turnout, highlighted by a flowing stream of worshippers and giant screens broadcasting the ceremony, signalled a striking resurgence of Catholic enthusiasm in a nation often described as secular.
Paris open-air Mass captivates the capital
The Mass on the Place de la Concorde was celebrated from a specially erected white canopy that served as a makeshift altar. As the pontiff rose to address the crowd, he praised “the enthusiasm, energy and commitment” of young believers, calling them “today’s Church.” He urged Catholics to let their faith “overflow so that those you meet may be refreshed,” emphasizing a missionary spirit that reaches beyond the bounds of the sanctuary. The event attracted between 700,000 and 800,000 attendees, according to Vatican estimates, turning the historic square into a sea of blue-white vestments and fluttering flags.
Political leaders, youth and social outreach intersect
While President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the Mass in order to respect France’s strict separation of church and state, his wife Brigitte Macron joined the ceremony alongside Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The gathering also featured prominent figures from the upcoming presidential race: far-right leader Marine Le Pen, conservative Bruno Retailleau, and centrist politicians Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal were all spotted in the crowd. Their presence underscored the intersection of faith and politics at a moment when the nation prepares for an election year.
Meeting migrants and warning about artificial intelligence
Earlier that Saturday, the Pope visited the Maison Bakhita centre, an organization that supports refugees and migrants in Paris. He highlighted the importance of seeing “those who are invisible” and reinforced the “fundamental role of women in building a civilisation of love.” In a separate address at the Élysée Palace, Leo XIV cautioned against the dehumanising potential of artificial intelligence urging officials not to lose their humanity “amid a paradise of machines.” This warning added a contemporary dimension to his otherwise spiritual itinerary.
Lourdes pilgrimage and the road ahead
After the Paris celebrations, the Pope travelled to the southwestern pilgrimage town of Lourdes. At the Grotto of Massabielle, he followed the traditional rituals of lighting a candle, drinking spring water and touching the stone where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared in 1858. In his prayer, he asked for “wise and generous leaders” in France, emphasizing the need for voices that defend fundamental human rights and promote peace. The Lourdes visit concluded a day that saw more than 150,000 people register to attend the upcoming Sunday Mass at the sanctuary.
The itinerary does not end in the southwest. On Monday, Pope Leo XIV will head to the north-eastern city of Metz to pay tribute to Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union and a candidate for beatification. The series of events underscores a broader narrative: a papal tour that blends liturgical celebration, political dialogue, social advocacy, and a forward-looking warning about technology.
