Pope Leo XIV welcomed by hundreds of thousands of faithful in Paris

Pope Leo XIV received an enthusiastic welcome from hundreds of thousands of faithful in Paris on Saturday, September 26, as he travelled along the Champs-Élysées in the popemobile toward Place de la Concorde to celebrate a major outdoor Mass.

Smiling and waving to the crowds, the Pontiff blessed numerous babies as he made his way through the French capital. Many faithful had arrived hours earlier to secure a place along his route.

According to French authorities, more than 600,000 people attended the Mass, while the Vatican estimated the crowd at 700,000. The gathering stretched as far as the Arc de Triomphe, with large screens allowing those further away to follow the ceremony.

Several prominent French political figures attended the event, including Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. President Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed the Pope upon his arrival in France, was represented by his wife, Brigitte Macron. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was also present.

The Mass formed part of Pope Leo’s four-day visit to three French cities, during which he is addressing challenges facing the Catholic Church, including the consequences of clerical sexual…