Pope Leo XIV draws 800,000 faithful to Paris before emotional Lourdes pilgrimage

On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV made a grand entrance into Paris, drawing a massive crowd of approximately 800,000 faithful individuals who lined the 2-kilometre route from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde. The procession culminated in an outdoor Mass, which exceeded the initial registration of 600,000 attendees. Throughout the ceremony, the pontiff repeatedly waved to the throng, blessing children and infants as he made his way to the altar.

Upon completing his Mass, Pope Leo embarked on a pilgrimage to the revered site of Lourdes, arriving the same evening for a silent prayer at the Grotto of the Apparitions. This hallowed location is steeped in history, as it was here that young Bernadette Soubirous reported her visions in 1858. On his first full day in Lourdes, the pope chose to walk barefoot for parts of his journey, engaging with pilgrims and pausing to converse with families who had travelled from across Europe.

Following a period of personal prayer within the basilica, Pope Leo met privately with shrine rectors and chaplains. On Sunday, he was set to meet with French bishops and preside over another outdoor Mass at the sanctuary. Additionally, Leo had scheduled meetings with seven survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and personnel, before concluding his visit with a Rosary and torchlight procession.