Pope Leo XIV Draws 800,000 to Paris for Massive Outdoor Mass

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a massive open-air Mass in the heart of Paris, drawing an estimated 800,000 people to the Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde. The event was notable for its large turnout, with the Vatican estimating attendance at 200,000 more than had registered in advance. The pope called on French Catholics to share their faith in an 'increasingly secularized society,' urging them to let their faith 'overflow' and refresh those around them. The event carried particular resonance in a country known for its strict tradition of secularism, with the Place de la Concorde being an execution ground during the French Revolution.