Pope Leo, the 71-year-old American pontiff, presided over a large outdoor religious service in Paris on the second day of his visit to France. The Vatican reported that approximately 700,000 attendees gathered for the event, exceeding the number of pre-registered participants by roughly 100,000.
The mass took place at Place de la Concorde, a significant location in French history that served as the site of executions during the French Revolution and remains a central symbol of the secular French republic. The selection of this particular venue drew criticism from those who support France’s constitutional principles separating religious and state institutions in public life.
During his remarks, Pope Leo called upon attendees to openly express their faith rather than keeping it private. He stated that Catholics should allow their beliefs to extend outward to influence those around them. He also conveyed the message that material possessions cannot provide lasting fulfillment, asserting instead that spiritual faith offers what material goods cannot.
The event represented the first official papal visit to France in 18 years and served as the largest gathering of the pope’s three-city tour across the country. Substantial security measures were implemented, including the deployment of approximately 14,500 personnel comprising police, military, and firefighting services. The ceremony was attended by numerous clergy members, including approximately 2,400 priests and deacons alongside around 100 bishops.
Attendees expressed enthusiasm about the occasion, with some describing it as an opportunity to publicly demonstrate the presence and commitment of Catholics in France. The pope traveled through Paris along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées aboard a specially designed vehicle, stopping periodically to interact with crowds.
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