Pope Leo draws 800,000 people to central Paris for open-air Mass on iconic square
Hundreds of thousands of people packed Paris’ iconic Champs-Élysées avenue to attend an open-air Mass with Pope Leo XIV on Saturday
Paris' Champs-Élysées avenue witnessed a massive gathering of over 800,000 people to witness Pope Leo XIV's open-air Mass on Saturday. The Vatican estimated the attendance, which exceeded the initial 600,000 pre-registration count by 200,000. This turnout highlighted the Catholic Church's lasting influence in France, even amid secularizing trends that have affected attendance across Europe.
The Pope addressed the crowds from his popemobile, leading them on a 2-kilometer parade to the iconic Place de la Concorde, a symbol of the French republic. Despite security measures, the event attracted people of various faiths and none, reflecting the universal appeal of the Pope's message of social justice and perseverance of faith.
The Pope emphasized the importance of spreading faith and the need to recognize and protect the small flame of spirituality that the Holy Spirit kindles in people. The Mass took place at Place de la Concorde, a site with historical significance as the location of the guillotining of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution.
This choice sparked debates about the appropriateness of using a historically significant area for religious events, especially considering France's strict separation of church and state.
Written by urgent.news from CityNews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
