Pope Leo XIV Draws 800,000 to Paris Open‑Air Mass on Historic Champs‑Élysées

• In his address, Pope Leo urged the crowd — which exceeded expectations by 200,000 — to share their faith with others.
• Many attendees, though not identifying as Catholics, came to hear the pope’s message of peace and unity.

Updated 5 min 59 sec ago

September 27, 2026 06:39

PARIS — Hundreds of thousands filled the Champs-Élysées on Saturday for an open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV, underscoring the Catholic Church’s lingering influence in a nation that is officially secular yet historically devout.

The Vatican estimated attendance at 800,000, roughly 200,000 more than the number who had preregistered. The turnout highlights the Church’s enduring presence in France despite declining regular participation and broader secular trends across Europe.

Traveling in his popemobile along a two‑kilometre stretch of the grand boulevard, the American‑born pope greeted flag‑waving crowds en route to the Place de la Concorde, the historic heart of Paris and a symbol of the French Republic.

In his homily, Leo urged the faithful not to keep their belief private but to “let it overflow, so that those you meet may be refreshed and their thirst satisfied.” He added, “From this beautiful city of Paris, I pray fervently that the living water of the Holy Spirit may flow throughout France.”

Although security forces closed central Paris to vehicular traffic, a festive atmosphere attracted people of many faiths and none. The enthusiasm spanned generations, with parents lifting babies and young children toward the pope for a blessing as he rode slowly past.

“The message of Pope Leo reaches beyond Catholics; he speaks to social justice, for example,” said Leontine Joseph, 42, a devoted Catholic who attended with two friends of Moroccan origin who were raised Muslim.

Leo has urged French Catholics to persevere in their faith “even amid the thorns” of a secular society during his four‑day visit, which began Friday with prayer at the restored Notre Dame — the first papal visit since the cathedral’s 2019 fire — and continued Saturday night in Lourdes, one of Catholicism’s most‑visited shrines.

Speaking at the Catholic Institute of Paris on Saturday morning, the pope expressed surprise at the recent rise in new converts.

“We must recognize, welcome and protect the small flame that the Holy Spirit has kindled in the darkness of the night, the tiny seed that strives to grow even amid the thorns,” he said.

Adult baptisms in France have tripled since 2016, reaching 13,000 this year. Yet analysts caution that this increase — also observed in secular Spain — does not reverse the overall downward trend; in 1980 the country recorded 513,000 baptisms, compared with 186,000 in 2024.

The pope’s ability to draw crowds rivals other major non‑religious gatherings in recent French history, such as the celebrations on the Champs‑Élysées after France’s World Cup victories in 1998 and 2018.

Many Saturday attendees, while not Catholic, came simply to hear the pope’s words.

“We are bombarded with terrible images; events like this remind us what truly matters in life,” said Thierry Chen, a 40‑year‑old Parisian startup entrepreneur who is not Catholic. “The crowd here reflects a variety of backgrounds, showing that the appeal lies in a shared belief in humanity.”

Sylvane Le Goff, 68, of the Paris region, brought her 10‑ and 12‑year‑old grandchildren to give them lasting memories.

“It’s not only about seeing the pope; it’s also about his message of peace and unity, values I hope to share with them,” she explained, noting she was raised Catholic but no longer practices.

Leo appeared particularly moved by the turnout, especially after a Friday night vigil that kept the 71‑year‑old pope out until nearly 11 p.m. following a busy first day.

Some 80,000 young people filled the national stadium for a fireworks display and a theatrical retelling of French Catholic history.

“Thank you for your courage! Thank you for your presence!” Leo exclaimed to cheering crowds, speaking off the cuff in French. “Thank you for your faith. You are the saints of France!”

The stage erected for the Mass on Place de la Concorde, topped with a golden cross and flanked by rows of choir singers, clergy and worshippers, marked a new chapter for the historic square.

Once an execution site during the French Revolution — where Louis XVI and Marie‑Antoinette met the guillotine — the plaza now embodies the Republic and traditionally hosts Bastille Day celebrations. The 2024 Paris Olympics added a modern touch, using the space for break‑dance, skateboard, BMX and 3X3 basketball events.

Organizers said the Concorde was the only central Paris location capable of accommodating such a crowd.

The decision drew criticism from advocates of France’s strict secularism, rooted in the 1905 law separating church and state. They argued that the square represents the Republic and suggested alternatives such as the Invalides complex, where Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass for 240,000 people in 2008, would have been more appropriate.

Leo’s Mass doubled as a birthday gift for Jean‑Claude Farnabe, who turned 63 on Saturday and arrived early to secure a spot.

A lifelong Catholic, Farnabe attends weekly Mass in the Paris suburb of Suresnes.

“There are more and more converts,” he said. “Many young people are drawn to faith and to God. Every Sunday I see newcomers aged 25 to 40 seeking baptism.”

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