Pope Leo XIV praised the contributions of young people to the Catholic Church during an open-air Mass in Paris, attended by an estimated 700,000 individuals. The Mass took place at the Place de la Concorde on the second day of the Pope's four-day visit to France, following his procession down the Champs-Élysées Avenue in a popemobile.
During the Mass, the Pope encouraged Catholics to share their faith, stating, "let it overflow so that those you meet may be refreshed." He referred to young people as "today's Church" and expressed admiration for their enthusiasm and commitment to Christian communities.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with the Pope on Friday but did not attend the Mass, adhering to France's separation of Church and state. However, Macron's wife Brigitte and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu were present, along with several presidential election candidates, including Marine Le Pen and Bruno Retailleau.
Earlier in the day, the Pope visited the Maison Bakhita centre, which supports refugees, and emphasized the importance of women in society. He also raised concerns about artificial intelligence, warning against losing humanity in a technology-driven world.
The Pope's visit is expected to draw large crowds throughout his stay, reflecting a growing interest in spirituality among the French and Europeans. After the Mass, he traveled to Lourdes, where he will celebrate another Mass on Sunday, anticipated to attract 150,000 attendees. On Monday, he will visit Metz to honor Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, has familial ties to France, with his grandmother hailing from Le Havre.