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Pope Leo XIV's Paris Visit Draws Record Crowd
Developing
In Short: The Pope's packed schedule in Paris also includes a visit to UNESCO, vespers at Notre-Dame, a youth vigil at the Stade de France, and a Mass at the Place de la Concorde, expected to draw a record-breaking crowd of over 600,000 people.
Pope Leo XIV's first apostolic 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.
Ahead of the pontiff's arrival, President Emmanuel Macron had hoped to give him the full honors of a state visit, but the Pope opted for a simpler apostolic visit.
Macron will welcome the Pope to the Élysée, where the two men will meet and Leo will address political leaders, civil society, and the diplomatic corps.
The Pope's packed schedule in Paris also includes a visit to UNESCO, vespers at Notre-Dame, a youth vigil at the Stade de France, and a Mass at the Place de la Concorde, expected to draw a record-breaking crowd of over 600,000 people.
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris announced that the Pope's outdoor Mass at the Place de la Concorde is expected to exceed all expectations.
Ulrich expressed his joy and gratitude to the faithful for their enthusiastic response to the Pope's invitation.
The decision was based on reliable information about the participation of the faithful from Paris and across France.
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.
In a statement, the Pope highlighted the importance of historical memory and the need for greater international assistance to Somalia, where violence and extreme weather are worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, particularly for women and children.
What this adds
The event at the Place de la Concorde is expected to draw over 600,000 people, confirming previous reports.
The Pope's decision to opt for a simpler apostolic visit rather than a full state visit highlights his preference for a more modest approach.
Background
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich says the event will exceed expectations with over 600,000 attendees.
Nearly 600,000 people have registered for Pope Leo XIV's open-air Mass in Paris, as the event expands to accommodate the massive turnout.
What's still developing
- Pope Leo XIV shows how to do it on a presidential scale.
- France was offering the Pope some of the highest honors at its disposal, which makes Leo's apparent preference for a simpler apostolic visit all the more interesting.
- But as Pope Leo XIV prepares for his first apostolic visit to France, he may have something surprisingly useful to teach us about the delicate art of saying no.
- 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.
- Through parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable works, Christians are called to “put the Gospel into practice” by welcoming and supporting those in need.
- “Do not be afraid of your smallness”: This was the encouragement offered by Pope Leo XIV to the bishops of the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA), who were received in audience at the Vatican on September 3, 2026.
- The Pope highlighted the “vast and complex reality” they face in the 17 countries under their jurisdiction, which are marked by “political, social, and religious tensions.” He urged them to continue their mission despite the small size of their communities and the hardships endured by the people under their care.
- Pope Leo XIV paid special tribute to the many Christians who have died as witnesses to the faith in these regions.
- “The heart of the seminary experience lies here: learning to be with the Master, the Lord Jesus,” the pope said in an audience with Italian seminarians in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.
- “Every vocation is born from an intimate dialogue with God, cultivated in silence and prayer, which often occurs despite the sometimes deafening noise of the world,” the pope said.
- “In a world so eager to celebrate self-realization, it is truly important to reiterate that none of you and none of us are here because we deserve it, but only because of a free choice made by God the Father, a sign and pledge of a gratuitous love that always anticipates us and never disappoints,” Pope Leo told the young men.