Pope leads large outdoor Mass during landmark France trip

The leader of the Catholic Church, whose global membership is about 1.4 billion, led a large outdoor Mass in Paris during the second day of a four-day visit to France. The trip was the first official papal visit to the country in almost 20 years, drawing attention in a nation that is secular in public life but has deep Catholic roots.

The 71-year-old pontiff celebrated the service at Place de la Concorde, a major Paris square. Organizers had installed a large white canopy to create a temporary altar, turning part of the public space into a setting for the religious ceremony.

Dozens of screens were positioned around the site so people gathered farther from the altar could follow the proceedings. The Mass lasted about an hour and a half, making it a central public event on the itinerary’s second day.

The gathering was marked by strong enthusiasm and religious feeling among those attending. The congregation joined a service in which prayers were accompanied by choir singing and organ music, while the weather shifted as sunlight appeared through grey skies.

The visit carried particular significance because the pope was the first pontiff born in the United States. His presence in France brought the head of a worldwide religious institution to a country where secularism is a defining feature of public life, alongside a long history of Catholic influence.

The trip also took place seven months before French voters were due to go to the polls. The timing placed the visit in a politically consequential period, although the account of the Mass did not describe any campaign activity or political remarks by the pope.

The outdoor celebration was the standout event identified for the second day of the four-day journey. Its temporary altar, extensive screens and musical accompaniment enabled a large gathering to participate in a service that would otherwise have been difficult to follow across the open square.