Estimated 800,000 attend pope’s Paris outdoor Mass

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Pope Leo celebrated an outdoor Mass attended by approximately 800,000 people on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, marking the largest event of his four-day visit to France. The Mass and his upcoming meetings with abuse survivors underscore his focus on restoring the Catholic Church’s reputation amid declining religious affiliation and ongoing moral challenges in French society.

An estimated 800,000 people gathered along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris on Saturday to attend an outdoor Mass celebrated by Pope Leo, the largest event of his four-day visit to France. Stretching from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, the crowd cheered and waved Vatican flags as the pontiff arrived in an open-top vehicle, frequently pausing to bless attendees, including children and people with disabilities.

The Mass drew a diverse group of notable figures, including Brigitte Macron, spouse of the French president; Marine Le Pen, the far-right political leader currently leading in polls ahead of next year’s presidential election; Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu; and Bernard Arnault, chairman of the luxury conglomerate LVMH. Throughout his sermon, Pope Leo emphasized finding happiness through faith rather than material possessions, stating, “Only God can fill the emptiness within us.” He expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to visit France amid efforts to restore the Catholic Church’s reputation following widespread abuse scandals.

Attendees began gathering early in the day to participate in the mid-afternoon service. Benoît Dédéau-Anglade, 67, described the pope’s message as clear and moving, commending its delivery in French. Another attendee, Pierre-Marie Estienne, who attended with his wife and four children, highlighted the need for hope amid what he described as an era dominated by materialism and moral challenges.

Pope Leo’s visit to France has included a series of engagements beyond the Mass. On Friday, he addressed leaders at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, criticizing the current state of international organizations such as the United Nations and raising concerns about the unchecked development of artificial intelligence. The pope warned that reliance on AI risked creating “a paradise of machines” that could dominate humanity. His calls for peace and reflection on global conflicts have at times provoked reactions from political figures abroad, including former U.S. President Donald Trump.

France’s secular tradition, established by the 1905 law separating church and state, has contributed to a decline in Catholic affiliation in recent decades. While the French Bishops’ Conference reports a rise in adult baptisms—with a record 21,000 last Easter—the national statistics agency INSEE found that only 25% of French adults aged 18 to 49 identify as Catholic, down from 43% ten years prior. In a meeting with newly baptized Catholics at the Catholic University of Paris ahead of Saturday’s Mass, Pope Leo cautioned against overly optimistic interpretations of these numbers, urging the Church to nurture the “small flame” of faith despite ongoing challenges.

Following the Mass in Paris, Pope Leo is scheduled to visit Lourdes, a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site. On Sunday, he plans to meet with seven victims of clerical abuse, part of wider efforts to address the Church’s past misconduct and foster reconciliation during his stay in France.

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