Pope Leo XIV’s Historic Paris Visit Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Faithful

Pope Leo XIV has embarked on a four-day visit to France, with the highlight of the trip being a massive Mass in central Paris expected to draw more than half a million Catholic faithful.

For Saturday’s afternoon celebration, an altar has been constructed on the Place de la Concorde, with police sealing off a large area around the Champs-Élysées to accommodate the massive crowd. Approximately 600,000 worshippers are expected to line the famous avenue all the way to the Arc de Triomphe and beyond.

The immense crowds reflect a deep enthusiasm that the Catholic Church attributes to a growing spiritual thirst across France and other parts of Europe. Large gatherings are anticipated at multiple stops throughout the Pope’s itinerary.

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to greet the Pope at Orly Airport on Friday morning, followed by official talks at the Élysée Palace focusing on geopolitical issues and artificial intelligence. The two leaders are also set to deliver a joint speech in Metz.

However, President Macron will not attend any of the Pope’s Masses, a decision largely aimed at respecting France’s strict laws on the separation of state and religion. Instead, the Champs-Élysées Mass will be attended by his wife, Brigitte Macron, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Several prominent figures eyeing next year’s presidential election, including Marine Le Pen, Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, and Bruno Retailleau, are also expected to be present.

Reports had suggested some tension between President Macron and the Vatican team organizing the visit, with the French president reportedly hoping for a more ceremonial and grand reception. Élysée officials dismissed these rumors, stating that while high-profile honors—such as a cavalry escort down the Champs-Élysées—are typically offered to visiting heads of state, it was never expected that the Pope would accept them.

Officials also confirmed that Pope Leo XIV declined President Macron’s proposal for a meeting with artisans who helped rebuild the Notre-Dame cathedral following the devastating fire, citing a tightly packed schedule.

On Friday afternoon, the Pope will take a Popemobile ride through crowds to the Notre-Dame cathedral, where he will be joined in the evening by 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in northern Paris. On Sunday, some 150,000 pilgrims are expected to attend Mass at the sanctuary of Lourdes in the Pyrenees.

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