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Pope Leo XIV Paris Mass Draws 700,000 in First Papal Visit in 18 Years — AI-generated representative image: A large crowd gathers at Place de la Concorde in Paris for an outdoor papal mass.

Editorial Team

Vatican estimates crowd exceeded registrations as the pontiff leads an outdoor Catholic mass at Place de la Concorde

Several hundred thousand people gathered in Paris on Saturday to attend an outdoor mass held by Pope Leo XIV, with the Vatican estimating that 700,000 people turned out, exceeding the 600,000 who had registered in advance.

The American pope greeted flag-waving crowds from his popemobile as he travelled along the Champs-Elysees before arriving at Place de la Concorde, the city's largest public square, where he led the gathering in prayer.

The mass forms part of a four-day tour of France that began on Friday, marking the first official papal visit to the country in 18 years. The visit carries significant weight as the pontiff works to restore the Roman Catholic Church's influence in a nation where secularism has steadily grown and its standing has been damaged by a major abuse scandal.

Key Moments of the Visit

The pope rode along the 1.9 kilometre Champs-Elysees in his popemobile before holding the outdoor mass at Place de la Concorde.
French President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the mass and was represented by his wife, Brigitte.
Far-right presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen, who currently leads the polls ahead of next year's election due in mid-April, was among the attendees.
On Friday, an estimated 300,000 people turned out to see the pontiff as he travelled to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Background and Purpose of the Visit

The visit comes five years after an inquiry found that 330,000 children were abused by clergy and lay members of the Church over a span of seven decades, a revelation that severely damaged the institution's reputation in France. The pope is seeking to improve the Church's standing while also challenging France's recently approved law allowing assisted dying.

The Catholic Church has gradually seen its influence in secular France dwindle in recent decades. The enthusiasm surrounding the visit has drawn comparisons to earlier papal history, with Francois Mabille, director of the Geopolitical Observatory on Religion, telling broadcaster RMC that there was "a sense of fervour reminiscent of that experienced over 40 years ago with John Paul II."

Official Statements and Engagements

On Friday, the pontiff met Macron and delivered a rare speech at the Elysee Palace, the president's official residence. He praised French society as the result of "a people whose diverse origins have enlivened and enriched the nation and its democracy."

The pope also addressed concerns about artificial intelligence, warning that "a paradise of machines" could cause people to lose their humanity, a theme consistent with his broader messages during the visit.

What Comes Next

The pope is next scheduled to travel to the southwestern town of Lourdes, where he will meet seven French victims abused by members of the clergy on Sunday. Further details on the remaining itinerary of the four-day tour have not yet been announced.