Paris: Pope Leo XIV to celebrate Mass before huge crowd

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass for an estimated 600,000 worshippers in central Paris on Saturday. The service is scheduled to commence at 3:00 p.m. local time, and is expected to draw a massive crowd. This marks the pontiff's first visit to France since assuming the papacy last year. The four-day visit will also take him to Lourdes and Metz.

The massive turnout is a testament to the religious fervor of Catholics around the world, numbering 1.4 billion. Parents and children alike have been queuing for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of the leader of their global faith. Teacher Sylvie Leclerc expressed the crowd's sentiment, stating, "It's a big event. We've come to share Christian fervor. You don't hear much from us Catholics, but now we're going to make some noise!"

Earlier on Saturday, Pope Leo XIV visited a social center and met with recently baptized adults. On Friday, around 300,000 people gathered to see him wave from his popemobile en route to the Notre Dame Cathedral, which had to undergo restoration following a devastating fire in 2019. French President Emmanuel Macron will not be present for the Mass, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Edouard Philippe have confirmed their attendance.