Crowds gather in Paris for Pope Leo XIV's open-air Mass
Around 700,000 people filled the Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde for Pope Leo XIV's outdoor Mass in Paris. The event was the centerpiece of his first official visit to France, drawing scouts, nuns, families and curious spectators. Attendees described reasons ranging from prayer to hoping to see Céline Dion.
Around 700,000 attendees filled central Paris for the outdoor liturgy, the focal point of Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural official trip to France. The 71-year-old, who leads about 1.4 billion Catholics, traveled along the avenue in an open vehicle before celebrating beneath a large white canopy.
Volunteers in yellow shirts guided crowds and distributed French and Vatican flags. Some participants, including nuns from Burgundy and scouts from Normandy, described the gathering as a chance to publicly express Christian identity; others came out of curiosity, with some mentioning hopes of spotting Céline Dion.
The gathering may strengthen a sense of shared identity among participating Catholics and could also draw broader Parisian attention to public religious expression. Local businesses, transport, and security services could feel short-term effects from such a large crowd. For non-believers and curious observers, the event may serve as a visible reminder of the Church’s public presence, though its longer-term social impact remains uncertain.