Pope Leo XIV continued his visit to France on Saturday as large crowds gathered in Paris for an outdoor Mass at Place de la Concorde. Almost 600,000 worshippers were expected to attend the service, following a first day that saw hundreds of thousands turn out across the capital.
The visit combines major public celebrations with meetings focused on migration, Catholic life and prayer for international peace. After the Paris events, the Pope is due to travel to Lourdes, where he will begin the next stage of his visit with a prayer.
Large crowds gather for Pope Leo XIV’s Paris Mass
The Mass at Place de la Concorde was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The gathering is one of the largest public events of the Pope’s visit to France and has drawn worshippers from Paris and beyond.
On Friday, around 300,000 people came into the streets to see Pope Leo XIV pass through the city in his popemobile, according to the Vatican. Later that day, approximately 80,000 young people attended a vigil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
The scale of the turnout has made the papal visit a significant event in France, as well as an important moment for Catholics and other Christian communities across Europe.
Prayers for peace and the Middle East
Among those attending the Mass was Karine, a Paris resident and member of the Maronite community. She said the gathering offered an opportunity to pray for the Middle East, describing the occasion as especially meaningful for Eastern Christians amid the region’s current circumstances.
The attendance of Maronite and other Eastern Christian worshippers underlines the wider religious and international concerns surrounding the visit. Alongside its Catholic focus, the event has provided a public setting for prayers for peace and solidarity.
Pope visits association supporting migrants
Before the Mass, Pope Leo XIV visited Maison Bakhita, a diocesan association that welcomes migrants in Paris. The visit brought him into contact with people from different religious backgrounds, including Christians and Muslims.
The stop highlighted the role of Catholic organisations that provide support and hospitality to migrants. It also gave the Pope an opportunity to meet people whose experiences reflect broader debates about migration, integration and social inclusion in France and elsewhere in Europe.
Rather than being limited to formal religious ceremonies, the programme has included encounters with communities and organisations working directly with people in vulnerable circumstances.
Church life and baptisms in France
Pope Leo XIV also visited the Catholic Institute of Paris, where he welcomed an increase in the number of people being baptised in France.
The development comes as Catholic communities in France continue to consider how to engage with younger generations and people exploring Christianity. The Pope’s comments placed the public celebrations in the context of the Church’s longer-term religious and pastoral life.
France remains one of Europe’s most historically Catholic countries, although religious practice and affiliation have changed significantly over time. The attention given to baptisms during the visit reflects the importance of new members and younger worshippers to the future of Catholic communities.
Next stop: Lourdes
Following the events in Paris, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to fly to Lourdes. He is expected to begin his stay there with a prayer at the internationally recognised pilgrimage site.
Lourdes attracts visitors from around the world and holds particular importance for Catholic pilgrims. The Pope’s visit therefore moves from a major urban gathering in Paris to a destination associated with prayer, pilgrimage and healing.
The transition will give the trip a different character while maintaining its central religious purpose. It also extends the visit beyond France’s political and cultural capital to one of the country’s most prominent Catholic sites.
Why the visit matters across Europe
The large crowds in Paris show the continued ability of major religious events to mobilise people at a time when European societies are becoming more diverse and secular in many areas.
The programme also connects several issues with wider European relevance:
- Religious life: The visit focuses attention on Catholic participation, baptisms and the role of young people.
- Migration: The meeting at Maison Bakhita highlights faith-based support for migrants.
- International concerns: Worshippers have used the occasion to pray for peace, including in the Middle East.
- Community engagement: The events bring together local residents, pilgrims, young people and international visitors.
Although the visit is primarily pastoral and religious, its public scale and themes give it broader significance for France and Europe.
What happens next
Pope Leo XIV’s France visit continues with his arrival in Lourdes and a programme centred on prayer and pilgrimage. Further events will determine how the visit develops after the large Paris Mass.
For now, the main message from the Paris leg is the strength of public participation, combined with attention to migrants, young Catholics and people seeking spiritual support. The crowds at Place de la Concorde make the Mass one of the defining moments of the Pope’s visit to France.
Conclusion
Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France has attracted major crowds, with nearly 600,000 people expected at the Paris Mass after large turnouts on Friday. The trip has also addressed migration, Christian life and prayers for peace before moving to Lourdes. Its clearest takeaway is the continued public reach of a papal visit that combines religious ceremony with wider community and humanitarian concerns.
