Pope Leo XIV draws huge crowd to central Paris Mass
About 700,000 people attended Pope Leo XIV's Mass in central Paris during his visit to France. France 24's Luke Shrago spoke with Father Grégoire Catta about the event. The Mass was a major moment of the pope's tour and drew a massive turnout.
The Paris gathering marked the biggest event of Pope Leo XIV’s France trip, with estimates around 700,000 attendees. Earlier in the day, crowds lined the Champs-Élysées for his popemobile procession, and he blessed babies along the route. France 24’s Luke Shrago discussed the occasion with Father Grégoire Catta.
During the visit, the pope also planned to meet French survivors of sexual abuse and used his Paris remarks to appeal for peace, saying people can live together with dignity and peace. The open-air Mass followed expectations of roughly 600,000 worshippers, though reports cited differing crowd estimates.
Such a large religious gathering could strengthen the visibility of Catholic communities in France and may encourage public reflection on coexistence and peace. Local residents, pilgrims, and city services may experience both inspiration and strain amid the large turnout. For abuse survivors, the pope’s planned meeting may carry symbolic weight, though its impact would depend on follow-through. Observers may see the event as a moment of unity, but reactions across a diverse society could vary.