Pope Leo draws 800,000 to Mass in the heart of Paris

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for nearly 800,000 people in central Paris on September 26. Attendees gathered along the Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde to hear the pope.

During his homily, the pope encouraged the people of France to find true happiness and peace by following Jesus. He told the crowd that they should seek God, truth, unity, and communion through the heart of Jesus.

As the pope arrived at the Place de la Concorde in the popemobile, the crowd sang hymns and waved flags. Some attendees reported waiting for several hours, sometimes in drizzling rain, to attend the Mass. Six altar servers with Down syndrome assisted during the liturgy.