700,000 people attended the Pope's Mass in Paris — The Guardian

On Saturday, about 700,000 people gathered on the Champs-Élysées in Paris to attend an open-air Mass. Pope Leo XIV presided over the service on the second day of his visit to France.

According to Vatican estimates, about 700,000 people attended the open-air Mass—approximately 100,000 more than the number of registered participants.

The service took place on the Place de la Concorde—the site where executions by guillotine were carried out during the French Revolution, including that of Louis XVI. The choice of this location, which for many is a symbol of the French state, was criticized by advocates of strict adherence to the principle of the separation of church and state in public life.

The highlight of the second day of the visit was a Mass presided over by the 71-year-old pontiff on Place de la Concorde. A giant white canopy was erected there for the service, serving as a makeshift altar, while dozens of screens allowed the faithful to follow the hour-and-a-half-long service.

In his homily, the Pope thanked God for the opportunity to visit France as part of a packed four-day tour of three cities, during which he intends to speak about the Catholic faith and its teachings.

This is the Pope’s first official visit to France in the past 18 years.

Pope Leo urged those present not to hide their faith and to share it with others. The pontiff also stated that true happiness can come only from faith, not from material possessions.

“Only God can fill the void within us,” he said.

The security perimeter around the event—approximately 2.2 km—was the largest of the entire papal tour. As a result, traffic in central Paris was blocked along the route from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe and beyond.

Crowds chanted “Leo, Leo” and “Long live the Pope” and waved French and Vatican flags as the pontiff slowly drove down the Champs-Élysées in the “Popemobile” — a specially designed, partially open vehicle used during public appearances.

The city center was closed off for the duration of the service. Helicopters circled the area, and snipers were stationed on the roofs of buildings.

To ensure security for the event, approximately 14,500 police officers, gendarmes, military personnel, and firefighters were deployed. The service was attended by 2,400 priests and deacons, as well as about 100 bishops.

This was reported by The Guardian.

In Paris, hundreds of thousands of people welcomed Pope Leo XIV before Mass — BBC News.

The Pope warned of a deep crisis in the world caused by violence and conflict—Reuters.