Pope Leo XIV's Paris Mass Draws Record Crowd

4:08 PM ETDeveloping

Faith Desk

In Short: Archbishop Laurent Ulrich says the event will exceed expectations with over 600,000 attendees.

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris announced that Pope Leo XIV's outdoor Mass at the Place de la Concorde is expected to draw a record-breaking crowd of over 600,000 people, exceeding all expectations.

In a statement, Ulrich expressed his joy and gratitude to the faithful for their enthusiastic response to the Pope's invitation. He thanked them for their participation and prayed for their well-being.

The bishops of France have requested an additional overflow area to accommodate the large number of attendees. This decision was made based on reliable information about the participation of the faithful from Paris and across France.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to France, scheduled from September 25 to 28, includes stops at the Élysée Palace, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, UNESCO headquarters, and the shrine of Lourdes. He will also hold four flights over the course of his journey, visiting Paris, Lourdes, and Metz.

Macron met with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on April 10, where they discussed France's assisted suicide debate, highlighting the Pope's role in addressing social and political issues.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, recently marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S. by calling for a renewed commitment to peace and offering prayers for victims and those still affected by the tragedy.

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“To all those engaged in the final preparations, to all those preparing to take the road that will lead them to Paris, to you, Parisians of all spiritual affiliations, I want to express my confidence, my gratitude, my joy at reuniting with you, in a number that exceeds all our expectations, or at praying to the Lord for you, in your midst, at the side of the Holy Father,” he said in a September 16 statement.
Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in St.
The Chicago-born pope made his first public comments to commemorate the anniversary, speaking in English at the end of his traditional Sunday noon blessing from his studio window overlooking St.

Sources

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