80 000 jeunes au stade de France pour une veillée de prière

Pope Leo XIV presided over a prayer vigil for more than 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday, September 25. The attendees, aged 17 to 35, gathered from across France for an evening of teaching, prayer, and celebration.

Before the vigil, the youth ministry organized praise, dancing, and testimonies at the Saint-Denis Basilica-Cathedral. Participants then marched from the basilica to the stadium. Relics of saints and blesseds, including Saint Martin, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, and Saint Brieuc, were also present at the stadium.

Faustine Fayette, the delegate for young adult pastoral ministry for the Archbishop of Paris, noted that the stadium filled within 30 minutes. She stated that the large turnout reflected a deep desire among young people for a message of hope during difficult economic and social times in France.