Pope Leo draws staggering 800,000 faithful to heart of Paris for massive outdoor Mass
Pope Leo XIV drew an estimated 800,000 to Place de la Concorde for a historic open-air Mass, urging French Catholics to share their faith openly.
TL;DR
- An estimated 800,000 people attended an open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV in Paris.
- The Mass took place in the Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde, with the Pope traveling in the popemobile.
- Pope Leo XIV encouraged Catholics to openly share their faith in an "increasingly secularized society."
- The event was seen as significant given France's tradition of secularism and the historical context of Place de la Concorde.
- The visit comes as France sees a tripling of adult baptisms since 2016, though overall baptisms have declined long-term.
- The scale of the event rivaled major public celebrations like France's World Cup victories.
- Pope Leo XIV also attended a vigil with 80,000 young people and visited Notre Dame Cathedral and Lourdes.
- The Pope invoked France's Catholic heritage and biblical imagery, calling on worshippers to share the "living water" of the Holy Spirit.