<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>PARIS (AP) —</strong> Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on Paris’ Champs-Élysées avenue for Pope Leo XIV’s outdoor Mass on Saturday, reflecting the Catholic Church’s ongoing presence in France, a country that has seen a decline in church attendance.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The pope greeted attendees from his popemobile during a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) parade leading to the Place de la Concorde for the Mass, a significant location in Paris and a symbol of the French republic.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Vatican estimated that 700,000 people attended the Mass, surpassing the 600,000 who had registered in advance. This turnout highlights the church’s influence in France, despite a trend of declining church attendance across Europe.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A significant security presence restricted road traffic in central Paris, but the atmosphere remained festive, attracting individuals of various faiths and backgrounds. Many families brought children for the pope to bless as he passed by.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The message of Pope Leo goes well beyond Catholic people; he speaks about social justice, for example,” said Leontine Joseph, 42, who attended with friends of Moroccan origin.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During his four-day visit, Leo encouraged French Catholics to maintain their faith amidst secular challenges. His visit began with prayers at the restored Notre Dame cathedral, marking the first papal visit since the 2019 fire, and will continue with prayers at the Catholic shrine at Lourdes.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The pope expressed surprise at the number of new converts in recent years, referring to it as God’s “unfathomable work” against statistical trends. He noted that adult baptisms in France have tripled since 2016, reaching 13,000 this year, although overall baptism numbers have declined significantly from 513,000 in 1980 to an expected 186,000 in 2024.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-huge-crowds-come-out-to-see-the-pope">Large Crowds Gather for the Pope</h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The turnout on Saturday was comparable to other major public celebrations in France, such as the World Cup victories in 1998 and 2018. Many attendees were not Catholic but were drawn by the pope’s message.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“People are seeing a lot of really terrible images. This kind of event reminds people of what is really important in life,” said Thierry Chen, a 40-year-old Parisian entrepreneur. “You see a lot of different people here, so it’s not just about one race, religion or nation, but about a common belief in humankind.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sylvane Le Goff, 68, attended with her grandchildren to create lasting memories. She emphasized the importance of the pope’s message of peace and unity.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Leo expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm shown by the French, particularly during a Friday night vigil attended by 80,000 young people, which featured fireworks and a retelling of French Catholic history.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Thank you for your courage! Thank you for your presence,” Leo told the crowd in French. “Thank you for your faith. You are the saints of France!” he said, receiving enthusiastic applause.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hundreds-of-thousands-expected-to-attend-mass">Mass Attendance Expectations</h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The choice of Place de la Concorde for the Mass was significant due to its capacity to accommodate the expected large crowd. Organizers expanded the site due to anticipated attendance increases.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">However, the venue choice faced criticism from secularism advocates who argue that the site represents the Republic, suggesting alternatives like the Invalides, where a previous papal Mass drew 240,000 attendees in 2008.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">France, traditionally Catholic, maintains a strict secularism in public life, rooted in a 1905 law separating church and state. The Place de la Concorde, designed in the late 18th century, is historically significant, having been a site of execution during the French Revolution.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Leo’s visit coincided with the 63rd birthday of Jean-Claude Farnabe, a lifelong Catholic who noted a recent increase in interest in faith among young people.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“There are more and more converts,” he said while waiting for the pope. “Many youngsters are interested in faith and in God. Every Sunday, I see new people, people aged between 25 and 40, who are getting baptized.”</p>