On Friday, the first day of his visit to France, Pope Leo XIV drew huge crowds. According to the Vatican, 300 000 people cheered the pontiff as he passed through the streets of Paris in his popemobile.
A little later, 80 000 young people attended a vigil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
On Saturday, nearly 600 000 worshippers are expected for the Pope’s giant mass on Place de la Concorde, starting at 3 p.m.
Among them, Karine, a Parisian, told Euronews: “I am very happy to be here today, to share this wonderful energy we all have together as we come to attend this spectacular mass. For us Maronites, Eastern Christians, it is even more powerful given the current situation. We are going to pray intensely for the Middle East”.
On Saturday morning, Pope Leo XIV first visited Maison Bakhita, a diocesan association that welcomes migrants. Several of them, Christians or Muslims, were able to meet him.
The Pope then welcomed the rise in the number of people being baptised in France during a visit to the Catholic Institute of Paris.
Towards the end of the day, he will fly to Lourdes, where he will begin his stay with a prayer.