“Here I am, Lord!” 80,000 young people shout with the Pope

12:06 AM ETDeveloping

Faith Desk

In Short: At a stadium vigil, Pope Leo XIV addressed a crowd of young Catholics in France.

Pope Leo XIV addressed a packed stadium of 80,000 young people outside Paris on the first day of his apostolic visit to France.

The vigil, which featured music, drama, and prayer, concluded with fireworks and a message from the pontiff.

The event highlighted the enthusiasm among young Catholics, despite France's secularist society.

The pope's visit included a Mass at the Metz Cathedral, where he greeted 35,000 people both inside and outside the Gothic structure.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to France concluded with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Metz.

Photos from the visit showed the pontiff embracing a child and blessing a baby as he made his way to the cathedral.

What this adds

The pope's visit to France included a variety of events, from stadium vigils to meetings with European leaders.

Photos from the visit provide a visual record of the pope's interactions with young people and local communities.

Young people from all over France began filling the country's largest soccer stadium early in the day.
As France 24 reported, young people themselves noticed the different energy: "I find it pretty crazy that there can be 80,000 of us and that we can all pray together," 27-year-old Jean Pelee told AFP before the pontiff's arrival for an evening vigil with 17- to 35-year-olds at a stadium outside Paris.
Pope Leo told the gathered crowd, as the pageant concluded with fireworks.
At a Youth Vigil closing the first day of his apostolic visit to France, Pope Leo XIV shared music, drama, questions, prayer and a challenge with a packed and lively stadium.
They had come to meet with the Vicar of Christ, Pope Leo XIV.
"Rural and urban, workers, students, young professionals and manual workers, united by their faith and their desire to hear the Pope’s words." The enthusiasm among young people for the leader of the Catholic Church stands in some contrast to France's secularist society.
"I go to Mass every Sunday, and it's true that I'm used to seeing a somewhat older crowd there." The vigil opened with a program of music and a dramatic performance, In the Footsteps of the Saints, during which 1,700 young people in historical costumes, representing France's saints and blesseds, processed into the stadium.

From there he traveled to the Metz Cathedral — a towering Gothic structure dedicated to St. Stephen and nicknamed “the Good Lord’s lantern” for its large expanse of stained glass — where he celebrated Mass before 35,000 people both inside and outside the cathedral, according to the Vatican.
On the fourth and final day of his apostolic journey to France, the pope addressed European leaders at the Robert Schuman Conference Center and celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of St.
Here is a look at his day in photos: Pope Leo XIV greets the cabin crew on the Air France A321 as he departs Lourdes for Metz on Sept.
| Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV embraces a child after landing in Metz, France, on Sept.
| Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News A participant takes a video recording of Pope Leo XIV’s participation at the meeting “To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity” at the Robert Schuman Conference Center in Metz, France, on Sept.
| Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV stops to bless a baby as he makes his way to the Cathedral of St.