Huge crowds gather in Paris for Pope Leo ahead of mass

Huge crowds of people have gathered on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris as Pope Leo XIV prepares to arrive for an outdoor mass, marking the biggest event of his weekend visit to France. Over 600,000 registered attendees descended upon the boulevard before sunrise, waving Vatican flags and eagerly awaiting the pontiff. Police closed off the nearby streets to facilitate the popemobile procession.

Geraldine Pambou, 42, expressed hope that Pope Leo would continue to advocate for world peace, emphasizing the urgency of ending wars. The Pope is embarking on a whirlwind four-day, three-city visit to France, aiming to restore the Church's reputation after recent abuse scandals caused nationwide shock. At the Paris headquarters of UNESCO, Pope Leo criticized multilateral groups for their direction and warned about the potential development of artificial intelligence, envisioning a future where "a paradise of machines" could take control of the Earth.

Pierre-Marie Estienne, 36, with his family, expressed a longing for hope and love in a materialistic world, emphasizing the need for a message of optimism. Despite a decline in Catholic affiliation since World War II, a record 21,000 adults were baptized during Easter, but only 25% of French 18-to-49-year-olds identified as Catholic, a drop from 43% a decade earlier.

Upon arrival at the Catholic University of Paris, Pope Leo cautioned the French church against being naive about the recent increase in adherents, urging them to recognize, welcome, and protect the small flame of faith amid darkness. Pope Leo will visit Lourdes next and meet with seven French victims of clergy abuse.