Pope Leo XIV celebrated an outdoor Mass in Paris on Saturday, September 26, 2026, as part of a four-day visit to France. The Vatican estimated that 700,000 people attended the event at the Place de la Concorde, exceeding the 600,000 who had registered in advance.
The event took place during the first papal visit to France in 18 years. It follows Leo's arrival on Friday, when he prayed at the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, marking the first time a pope has visited the site since the 2019 fire. During his trip, the American-born pontiff has encouraged French Catholics to maintain their faith within a secular society, specifically urging the church to protect the "small flame" of belief.
On Saturday, Leo traveled by popemobile along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, where police had closed streets to accommodate the crowds. The vehicle stopped frequently to allow the pope to bless children and people with disabilities. In a Friday speech at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Leo said that the United Nations and other multilateral organizations are in crisis. He also called for a reconsideration of artificial intelligence, suggesting it could lead to a "paradise of machines" that take control of the Earth.
For residents and visitors in Paris, the event caused a shutdown of road traffic in the city center due to a security detail. While the Vatican estimated a turnout of 700,000, a 2008 Mass by Pope Benedict XVI at the Invalides drew 240,000 people. The attendance for Pope Leo XIV included people who reported being there for his message of unity and peace.
What happens next: Following the Mass in Paris, the pope was scheduled to travel to Lourdes later on Saturday. On Sunday, September 27, he is set to meet with seven victims of clergy abuse at the Lourdes shrine. This meeting concludes his three-city tour of France, which has sought to address both the internal challenges of the church and the role of faith in a secular Republic.