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Hundreds of thousands expected in Paris for Pope Leo's visit
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV begins a four-day visit to France, highlighted by a large Mass on Saturday at Place de la Concorde in Paris, expected to draw over half a million attendees.
- President Emmanuel Macron will welcome the Pope and discuss geopolitical and AI issues but will not attend Masses to respect France's secular principles; his wife and Prime Minister will attend instead.
- The visit includes significant events such as a Popemobile ride to Notre-Dame, a youth gathering at Stade de France, and a tribute in Metz to Robert Schuman, a key figure in the EU's founding.
- The Pope plans meetings with migrants and victims of clergy sexual abuse, reflecting ongoing Church efforts to address social and historical issues in France.
- Despite a long decline in regular church attendance and clergy numbers, recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in Catholic traditions in France, evidenced by a rise in adult baptisms.
