Pope Leo XIV Greeted by Over Half a Million in Paris

Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Catholic Church, held a large open-air Mass in Paris during his visit to France. Hundreds of thousands of people enthusiastically greeted the Pope as he traveled down the Champs-Élysées Avenue in his Popemobile, waving to the crowds. More than half a million people are expected to attend the event.

Highlights

• Pope Leo XIV processed down the Champs-Élysées, greeting crowds and blessing several babies.
• French President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the Masses due to the country's strict separation of church and state, but his wife and the Prime Minister were present.
• The Pope warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence and met with migrants during his visit.
• On Sunday, 150,000 people are expected to attend another Mass in Lourdes.
• The Pope will visit Metz on Monday to pay tribute to Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union.

Details

Pope Leo XIV received an enthusiastic welcome from the public during a major open-air Mass on the Champs-Élysées Avenue in Paris. The Pope, traveling in his Popemobile beneath the Arc de Triomphe, waved to cheering crowds and blessed several babies as chants of "Leo, Leo" rang out. While French President Emmanuel Macron avoided the Masses to uphold France's principle of secularism, his wife Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu were in attendance. Several candidates for next year's presidential election were also seen at the event.

Earlier in his visit, at the Élysée Palace, the Pope addressed church and state officials, warning against the dangers of artificial intelligence and the risk of "losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines." He also visited the Maison Bakhita center, an association supporting refugees, where he met with migrants. During this visit, he praised the organization for inviting "us to see those who are invisible" and emphasized that "it is possible to encounter one another and to live together in dignity and peace."

Why it matters

Pope Leo XIV's visit to France is significant, drawing large crowds that the Church believes reflect a growing spirituality among the French and other Europeans. The visit highlights the religious leader's views on global issues such as artificial intelligence and migration, while also navigating the delicate balance between religious ceremonies and France's principle of secularism.