Pope Leo XIV descended the historic Champs‑Élysées in Paris, greeted by a sea of half a million worshippers for an open‑air Mass at the Place de la Concorde.
As the pontiff’s popemobile glided beneath the Arc de Triomphe, crowds shouted “Leo, Leo,” moving along the avenue while the Pope blessed children at several stages and lifted his arm in the traditional blessing.
The event marked the first of several public rituals during the Pope’s four‑day visit to France, which the Catholic Church says illustrates growing spiritual life across Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron faced a delicate decision: he opted to stay out of the Masses to avoid violating France’s law of secularism. Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu were among the politicians who attended the ceremony. Other political figures, from Marine Le Pen of the National Rally to former prime ministers Edouard Philippe and François Fillon, were also seen on the Place de la Concorde.
Outside the capital, the Pope visited the Maison Bakhita refugee centre, praising its work and stressing the need for dignity and peace for all people. He also warned government officials about the perils of artificial intelligence, urging that humanity must not lose its soul in a “paradise of machines.”
The mass attracted a record gathering, while the Church expected 150,000 attendees in Lourdes on Sunday and later scheduled a tribute to EU founding father Robert Schuman in Metz on Monday.
For the first time, the Vatican’s Pope with a French heritage—his great‑grandmother hailed from Le Havre—remains an enduring symbol across Europe.
Images: 
