**Huge Crowd Greets Pope Leo with ‘Leo’ Chants at France Tour’s Biggest Event**
Paris, France – On Saturday, Pope Leo made a significant appearance in Paris, drawing an estimated 700,000 attendees to an outdoor Mass on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, marking the highlight of his weekend visit to France. The crowd, which stretched approximately 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, was a sea of white and yellow flags, with many pressing against security barriers in hopes of catching a glimpse of the pontiff.
As Pope Leo traveled in an open-top popemobile, chants of “Leo, Leo” and “Long live the Pope” resonated through the tree-lined boulevard. The vehicle made frequent stops, allowing the pope to bless babies, children, and individuals with disabilities, who were passed forward by volunteers. Among the attendees was Geraldine Pambou, 42, who expressed her hopes that the pope would advocate for peace, especially in light of recent global conflicts. “The most important thing is that he emphasises world peace,” she stated. “There are too many wars.”
The event attracted more than 600,000 registered participants, with the Vatican estimating the turnout at around 700,000. Pope Leo’s visit to France is part of a four-day, three-city tour aimed at addressing the Catholic Church's standing in the wake of abuse scandals that have shaken the nation.
Earlier in the weekend, during a speech at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO, Pope Leo highlighted the current crisis facing the United Nations and other multilateral organizations. He also reiterated his concerns regarding the development of artificial intelligence, warning that it could lead to a future dominated by technology. “We could end up in a paradise of machines,” he cautioned, urging French leaders to consider the implications of AI on society.
Pierre-Marie Estienne, 36, was among the crowd with his family, sharing his thoughts on the need for a hopeful message in today’s world. “We live in an era of great materialism,” he remarked. “There is a lot of evil around us, so we need a message of hope and love.”
Pope Leo's visit comes at a time when France, a secular nation with a long-standing separation of church and state, has seen a decline in Catholic affiliation since World War II. While the French Bishops’ Conference has reported an increase in adult baptisms, including a record 21,000 last Easter, a recent report from the national statistics agency, INSEE, indicated that only 25% of French citizens aged 18 to 49 identify as Catholic, a decrease from 43% a decade ago.
During a visit with newly baptized Catholics at the Catholic University of Paris, Pope Leo urged the French Church to avoid “naively optimistic” views regarding the recent uptick in adherents. “We must recognise, welcome and protect the small flame that the Holy Spirit has kindled in the darkness of the night, the tiny seed that strives to grow even amid the thorns,” he advised.
Following the Mass in Paris, Pope Leo is scheduled to travel to Lourdes, a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site, where he will meet with seven French victims of clergy abuse on Sunday. This visit underscores the pope's commitment to addressing the Church's past failures while seeking to restore faith among its followers in France and beyond.