Huge crowds greet Pope in Paris for open-air Mass
More than half a million people are expected to attend the event in the heart of the French capital.
Pope Leo XIV greeted hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic spectators in the heart of Paris, prior to an expansive open-air Mass on Saturday. The pontiff traveled down the Champs-Élysées Avenue, waving from his popemobile and stopping at various points along the route to greet the crowd. Chants of his name, "Leo, Leo," filled the air as Pope Leo blessed babies and emphasized the importance of women in shaping a society built on love.
A special altar was constructed on the iconic Place de la Concorde for the ceremony, with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, and several political figures from the upcoming presidential elections expected to attend. Earlier, the Pope visited the Maison Bakhita centre, an organization aiding refugees, and commended the group for welcoming "those who are invisible."
Throughout his trip, Pope Leo has cautioned against losing humanity amidst the advancement of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need to preserve our human essence while embracing technological progress.
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