Pope Leo XIV visited Paris on Saturday, September 26, leading a massive open-air mass that drew hundreds of thousands of faithful ahead of upcoming presidential elections. The four-day visit to France—the first official papal trip to the country in nearly two decades—brought together ordinary citizens, migrants, and prominent political figures, including potential contenders to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron.
Papal Mass in Paris Draws Crowds and Political Hopefuls
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Paris on a four-day apostolic journey, traveling down the Champs-Elysees in the papamobile to enthusiastic crowds waving French and Vatican flags. On Saturday, the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide led a 90-minute mass at Place de la Concorde. According to the Vatican, roughly 700,000 people gathered across an area stretching over two kilometers past the Arc de Triomphe for the open-air service.
Security was tight, with the city center locked down, helicopters patrolling overhead, and snipers positioned on rooftops. Several potential presidential candidates seeking to succeed Emmanuel Macron attended the service, including far-right anti-immigration leader Marine Le Pen and centrist politician Edouard Philippe. President Macron did not attend the mass and was represented by his wife, Brigitte.
Did You Know?
This journey marks the first official papal visit to France in nearly twenty years, bringing a visible religious gathering to a historically secular nation with deep Catholic roots seven months before national elections.
Engaging Migrants and Addressing Artificial Intelligence
Prior to the Saturday mass, Pope Leo visited Maison Bakhita, a support center for refugees, where he met with migrants and emphasized the importance of human dignity and peaceful coexistence. He stated that it is possible for people to meet and live together in dignity and peace, while also highlighting the fundamental role of women in building a civilization of love. Organization representatives noted that the visit delivered a distinct message ahead of the upcoming April-May elections.
On Friday, September 25, an estimated 300,000 people turned out to catch a glimpse of the Pope en route to the Cathedral Notre Dame. François Mabille, director of the Geopolitical Observatory on Religion, told RMC television that the atmosphere carried a spirit reminiscent of visits from over forty years ago under John Paul II. Earlier, Pope Leo warned against the rise of an ethics-free machine paradise driven by artificial intelligence and urged France to act as an unwearied champion of peace regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Upcoming Itinerary: Lourdes and Restitution
Following the Paris services, Pope Leo planned to travel Saturday evening to Lourdes, the southwestern French town where Catholic tradition holds the Virgin Mary appeared in a grotto to a peasant girl in 1858. On Sunday, September 27, he is scheduled to speak with seven victims of clerical sexual abuse. An independent investigation published in 2021 revealed that roughly 330,000 minors suffered abuse by clergy members or laypersons within the French church over seven decades. The papal tour concludes on Monday, September 28, in Metz, where the pontiff will deliver an address on European peace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who attended the papal mass in Paris?
The open-air mass at Place de la Concorde drew hundreds of thousands of faithful, alongside prominent political figures such as far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist politician Edouard Philippe. President Emmanuel Macron was represented by his wife, Brigitte.
:strip_icc():format(webp)/kly-media-production/medias/5223752/original/058333100_1747563519-20250518-Misa_Pelantikan_Paus_Leo_XIV-AFP_8.jpg "Pope Leo's Paris Visit 7 Months Before Election Draws Presidential Candidates to Mass")
Why is Pope Leo XIV visiting France?
The pontiff is on a four-day official visit to France—the first in nearly twenty years—focusing on themes of peace, migration, ethics in artificial intelligence, and addressing the church’s history of clerical abuse.
What are the next stops on the papal itinerary?
After visiting Paris, the Pope travels to Lourdes in southwestern France, will speak with clerical abuse survivors, and concludes his trip in Metz with a speech on European peace.
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