15,000 police officers, 2,500 journalists… the surprising numbers (challenges and opportunities) surrounding the Pope’s visit to France

Paris is preparing for the visit of Pope Leo XIV on September 26 by transforming the Place de la Concorde into an open-air sanctuary for a Mass. Organizers expect between 600,000 and 800,000 people to gather along the Champs-Élysées to follow the Mass, though some estimates suggest the crowd could reach one million.

Security for the visit will involve some 15,000 police officers, gendarmes, and military personnel, along with an anti-drone system. Approximately 2,500 journalists have also been accredited.

The visit includes a prayer vigil for young people at the Stade de France, where all 80,000 places were reserved within half an hour. Local parishes are organizing transport, reception, and accommodation for pilgrims, with some families offering rooms to those arriving for only a day.