In brief
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Paris to a roaring crowd of half‑million people on the Champs‑Élysées, pausing to bless babies and reply to chants of “Leo, Leo.” The open‑air Mass at Place de la Concorde drew millions, transforming the boulevard into a sea of white hats and yellow tops. While President Macron stayed away, his wife Brigitte and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu attended, and political rivals such as Marine Le Pen and Edouard Philippe also turned up. The Vatican heralded the turnout as evidence of a growing spirituality in France and Europe, while the Pope also warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence and met migrants early in the visit.
Hundreds of thousands turned out on Saturday to watch Pope Leo XIV stroll past the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs‑Élysées, where he paused to bless babies and salute chants of “Leo, Leo.”
The event, held on the Place de la Concorde, attracted an estimated half‑million people, turning the boulevard into a sea of white hats and yellow tops.
Before the march, in the airport, the pontiff met migrants at the Maison Bakhita centre and voiced a call for dignity and peace, also warning of the “paradise of machines” that could erode humanity.
French leaders stayed mostly in the shadows: President Macron has abstained from the Masses to preserve the country’s strict secularism, though his wife Brigitte and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu were present.
Political rivals – Marine Le Pen, Bruno Retailleau, Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal – also turned up, with former Prime Ministers Edouard Philippe and François Fillon meriting a stand‑out presence.
The Vatican said the massive turnout reflected “a growing spirituality among the French and other Europeans.” Later in the week, the Pope will travel to Lourdes, and then to Metz to honour Robert Schuman.
