Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass before hundreds of thousands in Paris
Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass at Paris’s Place de la Concorde before an estimated 700,000 worshippers during his first visit to France since becoming pope. In his homily, he urged Catholics to share their faith and said spiritual fulfilment could not be found in material things.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass before hundreds of thousands of worshippers in central Paris on Saturday during his four-day visit to France. The Vatican estimated that about 700,000 people attended the open-air service at the Place de la Concorde near the Champs-Elysées. The pope travelled along the avenue in his popemobile as crowds lined the route, waving white and yellow flags and pressing against security barriers.
The Mass lasted about 90 minutes and was held beneath a large white canopy that served as a temporary altar. Dozens of screens were installed to allow people across the site to follow the service. In his homily, Leo urged Catholics not to keep their faith to themselves.
He said they should allow it to flow outward and refresh those they encountered. He also said happiness should be found in faith rather than material possessions. “Only God can fill the emptiness within us,” the pope said.
He prayed that the Holy Spirit would flow through France from Paris. Crowds had begun queuing hours before the Mass. Earlier in the day, Leo visited a social centre and met adults who had recently been baptised.
On Friday, about 300,000 people gathered to see him on his way to the restored Notre Dame Cathedral. Leo’s visit is his first to France since becoming pope last year. He is also scheduled to travel to Lourdes and Metz.
French President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the Mass, while Marine Le Pen and Edouard Philippe confirmed their attendance.
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