In Pictures: Pope Leo XIV opens outdoor Mass in Paris’ Place de la Concorde
Photos: Sarah Meyssonnier, Reuters
Worshippers sit to hear Bible reading as Pope begins Mass in central Paris
Photo: Lara Bullens, FRANCE 24
Pope Leo begins open-air Mass before hundreds of thousands in Paris
Vatican estimates 700,000 people have turned out for Pope Leo’s Mass in central Paris
The faithful lift their voices in song to mark the opening of the Mass
Video: Lara Bullens, FRANCE 24
Crowds pack the Champs-Élysées to catch a glimpse of Pope Leo
Photo: Cyrielle Cabot, FRANCE 24
Pope Leo arrives at Palce de la Concorde
Pope Leo XIV has arrived for an outdoor Mass at Paris’ Place de la Concorde.
The American pope greeted the throngs from his ‘popemobile’ during a 2-kilometre parade along the Champs-Élysées leading to Concorde.
Pope begins popemobile parade along Champs-Élysées
Pope Leo XIV is riding down the French capital’s iconic Champs-Élysées avenue in the “popemobile” to the cheers of huge crowds of faithful, making his way to Place de la Concorde for a giant open-air Mass.
The service, the highlight of the second day of the pontiff’s four-day visit to France, is due to begin at 3pm (1300 GMT), with around 600,000 worshippers expected to attend.
‘Wanted my kids to experience this moment’
Tristan, 53, his son Louis-Calixte, 10, and his sister Alice, 46, live about 300 metres from the Arc de Triomphe.
“Not only is it very practical for us to be here, but I got to see Jean-Paul II in 1991 and it really marked me. I wanted my kids to experience this moment too,” Tristan says.
“I feel like Catholicism in France is quite hidden. We don’t get a lot of big public moments like this, so it’s nice to be seen and share this moment with other Christians,” says Alice.
Tristan’s son goes to a Catholic school in Paris. When asked what he would say to Leo XIV if he could meet him in person, Louis-Calixte says he would “ask him to take a selfie!”
Photo: Lara Bullens, FRANCE 24
Sisters praise pope for courage to ‘go against the grain’
Marie-Madeleine, 45, and Marie-Élisabeth, 44, are nuns from Autun, in the Burgundy region.
“This event is a way for us to say loud and proud that Christians are here,” Marie-Élisabeth says.
“We live in an individualistic society. France is a place where power and money reign supreme, there is not enough openness between people here. I really hope that Leo XIV’s visit can bring meaning and positivity to those who are stuck in that mindset,” Marie-Madeleine chimes in.
Both would like to thank the pope for his courage to “go against the grain” and insist on the importance of “staying human” in a world they see as “disconnected”.
“It must not be an easy load for the pope to carry,” says Marie-Élisabeth.
Photo: Lara Bullens, FRANCE 24
Jean-Albert took the day off to attend pope’s Mass
Jean-Albert, 60, almost didn’t make it to the Mass today. He works as a mason in Normandy and was supposed to work.
“Yesterday at 6pm, my boss called me and said that I could have the day off. At 9pm I had the ticket in hand, and today I almost missed the bus our parish had organised to drive over,” he laughs.
Jean-Albert has always been Catholic and was surprised to see just how many people have showed up for the Mass. “It’s proof that faith moves people! I know there are atheists among us, people who aren’t necessarily convinced, but here we are. Religion resists!”
Photo: Lara Bullens, FRANCE 24
T-shirt? Tote bag? Cup or magnet? Crowds flock to grab their pope souvenirs
Several stands have been set up in the secured zone to sell pope merch, including T-shirts, cups, tote bags and magnets.
Photo: Cyrielle Cabot, FRANCE 24
🎥 FRANCE 24’s Luke Shargo meets with a volunteer in Paris
‘I would like to know how to develop a more personal relationship with God’
Kate, 25, is one of the many hundreds of thousands of people who have travelled to central Paris to attend Mass with the pope today.
Kate grew up Catholic and for her, the Mass is an opportunity for “Christians to support each other, show up in numbers and celebrate together.”
If Kate could ask Leo XIV one question, it would be how to keep her faith. “Sometimes I don’t feel like going to church or expressing my faith externally. I would like to know how to develop a more personal relationship with God, a more intimate one,” she says.
Kate and her family travelled from the suburbs of Paris to be here.
🎥 ‘Sea of people’ at Place de la Concorde
Thousands line up to see the pope this afternoon
Thousands of people have already lined up to get into the area where Pope Leo will hold Mass at 3pm. Some people started queuing already at dawn.
Photo: Lara Bullens, FRANCE 24
In pictures: Security tight as crowds gather at Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde
Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes, Reuters
Photo: Sarah Meyssonnier, Reuters
Photo: Sarah Meyssonnier, Reuters
