Several hundred thousand people gather for Pope Leo’s mass in Paris
An estimated 700,000 people attended an outdoor Mass in Paris on Saturday as Pope Leo XIV continued a four-day visit to France, the Vatican said. The pontiff rode along the Champs-Élysées and led prayers at Place de la Concorde during his first official papal visit to the country in 18 years.
Why It Matters
The visit comes as the pope seeks to rebuild the Catholic Church's standing in France amid long-running abuse scandals and public debate over assisted dying, and his presence drew large public crowds and notable political figures. His remarks on topics such as artificial intelligence and meetings with victims highlight the trip's mix of pastoral, political and institutional themes.
Key Facts
- Vatican attendance estimate: 700,000 people
- Registered in advance: 600,000 people
- Distance traveled on Champs-Élysées: 1.9 kilometres (1.2 miles)
- First official papal visit to France in: 18 years
- Children found to have been abused: 330,000 over seven decades (from prior inquiry)
The Vatican said about 700,000 people gathered in Paris on Saturday to attend an outdoor Mass led by Pope Leo XIV, surpassing the roughly 600,000 who had registered in advance. The American pope was greeted by cheering crowds as he rode in his popemobile along the 1.9-kilometre Champs-Élysées before conducting the service at Place de la Concorde.
The visit marks the pope’s first official papal trip to France in 18 years and continues a four-day program that began on Friday, when an estimated 300,000 people turned out as he traveled toward Notre-Dame Cathedral. On Friday he also met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace and delivered a rare speech at the presidential residence.
The trip takes place against a backdrop of difficult issues for the French Church and society. A previous inquiry established that 330,000 children were abused by clergy and lay members over seven decades, and the pope has signaled efforts to improve the Church’s standing in France. He has also engaged publicly on policy debates in the country, including expressing concerns that advances in artificial intelligence could erode human values, and challenging France’s recently approved assisted-dying law.
Political figures and public personalities were visible among the crowds: President Macron did not attend the Mass and was represented by his wife, Brigitte, while far-right presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen was present. The pope is scheduled to travel next to Lourdes, in southwestern France, where he will meet seven French victims of clerical abuse on Sunday as part of the visit’s focus on reconciliation and outreach.
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