POPE LEO DRAWS 700,000 FOR MAJOR PARIS MASS DURING FRANCE VISIT

September 27, 2026

Pope Leo drew an estimated 700,000 people to an outdoor Mass in central Paris on Saturday, marking the largest public event of his four-day visit to France. Large crowds gathered along the Champs-Élysées as the pontiff travelled through the capital in an open-top popemobile before celebrating Mass at Place de la Concorde.

During his address, Pope Leo urged Catholics to seek happiness through faith rather than material possessions. His visit comes as the Catholic Church faces declining religious affiliation in France, although church authorities have reported an increase in adult baptisms in recent years.

The Pope also used his France tour to address broader international concerns, including the crisis facing multilateral institutions and the potential consequences of artificial intelligence. He has called for greater attention to the impact of emerging technologies on human society.

Pope Leo is scheduled to continue his journey to Lourdes, where he is due to meet seven victims of clergy abuse. The four-day tour will conclude in Metz, where he is expected to speak about peace and European unity.