Overview
- On Saturday the Vatican estimated about 800,000 people filled the Champs‑Élysées and Place de la Concorde for an open‑air Mass that began after a roughly 2‑kilometre popemobile procession.
- The visit started with prayer at the restored Notre‑Dame and a youth vigil at the Stade de France that organisers said drew about 80,000 young people.
- After the Paris events the pope travelled to Lourdes, where he prayed at the Grotto of Massabielle and publicly entrusted France to the Virgin Mary.
- The choice of Place de la Concorde drew criticism from supporters of strict French secularism and President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the Mass, though several presidential hopefuls and other high‑profile figures were present.
- Church officials note a recent rise in adult baptisms in France, and analysts say the pope’s high‑visibility visit could influence public discussion on faith, social issues and politics ahead of next spring’s presidential election.