In brief
Pope Leo XIV was welcomed by a sea of believers on Paris’s Champs‑Élysées for an open‑air Mass, with the pontiff travelling in a popemobile amid cheers. The ceremony featured a custom altar at Place de la Concorde and a spontaneous blessing of babies at several stops. Key political figures—including Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu—joined the crowds, as did several presidential candidates. Earlier that week the Pope met migrants at the Maison Bakhita centre and cautioned against the dangers of artificial intelligence.
In a breathtaking spectacle, Pope Leo XIV was greeted by hundreds of thousands as he traveled the Champs‑Élysées for an open‑air Mass in Paris. The pontiff rode in a popemobile, pausing along the avenue to bless babies and inspire chants of “Leo, Leo” from the crowd.
The ceremony featured a custom altar at Place de la Concorde, where more than half a million people were expected to gather. A sea of white hats and yellow tops lined the street, with flags waving and phones recording the historic moment.
Key political figures, including Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, were in attendance, along with several presidential hopefuls from France’s major parties. Marine Le Pen, Bruno Retailleau, Edouard Philippe, and Gabriel Attal were among those spotted at the venue.
Earlier that week the Pope met migrants at the Maison Bakhita centre, praising the organization’s work with refugees. He also warned against the dangers of artificial intelligence, urging humanity to remain at the heart of progress.
