Pope Leo, a 71-year-old American pontiff, presided over a large outdoor mass in Paris on Saturday as part of an official papal visit to France. The Vatican estimated that 700,000 attendees gathered at the Place de la Concorde, exceeding pre-registration numbers by roughly 100,000 people. The event marked the first official papal visit to France in 18 years and served as the largest gathering of the pope’s ongoing four-day, three-city tour across the country.
The selection of the Place de la Concorde as the venue drew criticism from advocates of France’s secular framework separating religious and state institutions in public life. The location carries historical significance as the site of executions during the French Revolution, when the Catholic monarchy of Louis XVI was overthrown. Nevertheless, the gathering proceeded with substantial security measures, including approximately 14,500 police officers, military personnel, gendarmes, and firefighters deployed throughout a security zone extending roughly 1.4 miles across central Paris.
During his homily, Pope Leo encouraged Catholics to openly express their faith and share its teachings. He stated that material possessions cannot provide genuine fulfillment and that only spiritual connection can address deeper human needs. Attendees responded with cheering and chanting as the pontiff traveled along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in a specially designed popemobile, stopping periodically to interact with members of the crowd.
Among those present were approximately 2,400 priests and deacons, along with about 100 bishops. Some attendees expressed that the gathering represented an opportunity for Catholics to demonstrate their presence and commitment to their faith community. Security measures included helicopter surveillance and personnel stationed on rooftops throughout the event area.
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