On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a Mass before an estimated 700,000 people at Place de la Concorde in Paris, the second day of his four‑day visit to France. The ceremony, held from a special altar, saw the pope commend the “enthusiasm, energy and commitment” that young people bring to the Catholic Church, calling them “today’s Church.”
After greeting crowds from his popemobile on the Champs‑Élysées, the pope urged Catholics to let their faith overflow so that those they meet may be refreshed. He also addressed the youth directly, noting how “beautiful it is to see your enthusiasm, energy and commitment, and the joy you bring to Christian communities.”
Senior French politicians were present, including President Emmanuel Macron, who had met the pope on Friday. Macron did not attend the Saturday Mass, citing France’s strict separation of church and state, but his wife Brigitte and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu were in attendance. Candidates for next year’s presidential election, such as Marine Le Pen, Bruno Retailleau, Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, were also spotted at the event.
Earlier that day, the pope met migrants and volunteers at the Maison Bakhita centre, praising the organisation for bringing “the invisible” to view. He also highlighted the “fundamental role of women in building a civilisation of love.”
At the start of his visit, the pope warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, cautioning against “losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines.” Large crowds are expected to attend the remainder of his trip, which includes a pilgrimage to Lourdes and a tribute to European Union founder Robert Schuman in Metz.
With the Mass drawing a massive crowd, the event underscores a growing spirituality among Europeans and the pope’s focus on youth engagement and technological caution.
